The vote on the Economic Freedom Fighters's (EFF's) motion of no confidence in National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will be held on 7 March.

On Thursday, the National Assembly's Programming Committee heard that Mapisa-Nqakula's deputy, Lechesa Tsenoli, approved the request from the red berets.

Earlier this month, EFF leader Julius Malema gave Mapisa-Nqakula 48 hours to publicly withdraw and apologise on behalf of the institution for the fracas between the party's MPs and security forces during the State of the Nation Address (SoNA).

EFF MPs prevented President Cyril Ramaphosa from speaking for more than 30 minutes and stormed onto the stage.

They were eventually ordered to leave.

The EFF believes that Mapisa-Nqakula was irresponsible and acted unconstitutionally.

It is challenging Mapisa-Nqakula's conduct during the SoNA and that of Ramaphosa's protectors.

Malema also claimed that Mapisa-Nqakula referred to his fellow MPs as "animals".

The EFF is seeking a secret ballot vote but there is no guarantee of this.

Minutes after the SoNA, Parliament said in a statement that, as per Joint Rules of Parliament, the security services may intervene directly anywhere in the precincts in terms of Section 4(2) of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act (Act No 4 of 2004) "when there is immediate danger to the life or safety of any person or damage to any property".

Therefore, they do not have to await the invitation of the presiding officers to enter the chamber when the life or safety of a member is at stake.

Secretary to the National Assembly, Masibulele Xaso, said the 7 March sitting already had a programme and that "any other motions will come after the orders of the day".