Madam Acting Speaker, on assuming membership of this House, we solemnly undertook, in terms of section 4(1) of Schedule 2 of the Constitution, to "obey, respect and uphold the Constitution". We are now required to demand that President Zuma do the same, as he is bound by his oath of office, which requires him to be the first to "obey, respect and uphold the Constitution".
On Friday last week the President's office defied an order by the Supreme Court of Appeal to hand over the abbreviated transcripts of the terms that permitted criminal charges against him to be dropped or withdrawn. As his office and his lawyers act daily under his direct authority, the inescapable conclusion is that the President is illegally refusing to be bound by section 165(5) of the Constitution, which binds all persons to obey a judicial order. There are no exceptions.
Under the circumstances, Cope requests the Speaker that impeachment procedures against the President be instituted for defying a lawful judicial order. I ask that all members of the House support this plea. Thank you. [Interjections.] [Applause.]