Despite the African Transformation Movement's (ATM's) threat to take the speaker of the National Assembly to court over her refusal to have a vote of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa done by secret ballot, it's all systems go for the 30 March vote from Parliament's side.

Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula informed the National Assembly Programming Committee on Thursday morning that she had received a notice of ATM's intention to challenge her decision in court, and that a preliminary date of 28 March was set – two days before the scheduled vote.

She said it was just a notice – not an actual application yet.

"As far as we're concerned, it's all systems go," she added.

This is subject to change if a court interdicts the vote from going ahead.

On the same day as the ATM's vote of no confidence, the Democratic Alliance's (DA's) motion of no confidence in the Cabinet will be heard.

Mapisa-Nqakula said she received a submission from the DA asking for an in-person vote with conscience. She said it was similar to what was raised at a previous meeting, and added that she would respond to the submission.

Meanwhile, Parliament seems happy to kick the State capture can down the road, opposition parties' objections notwithstanding.

At a previous meeting, Mapisa-Nqakula said Ramaphosa would respond to the Zondo Commission's report by 30 June with an implementation plan.

However, she has received a letter from the president, informing her of a court ruling that extended the commission's deadline to complete its work to 30 April. Ramaphosa will table his response four months after that.

Three parts of the report have already been released, and several prominent African National Congress (ANC) members have been implicated.

DA deputy chief whip Siviwe Gwarube said that in the report, there were "damning findings against Parliament" and added that nothing stopped them from setting up ad hoc committees to deal with aspects of the report.

She said the executive function – Ramaphosa tabling his response – was very different from the parliamentary function.

Mapisa-Nqakula said it was not the forum to deal with the matter. It should go to the Chief Whips Forum or Rules Committee.

ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina said the ANC noted the outcome of the court judgment.

"We'll deal with that matter at the right forum," she said. "We must get ready when that report is presented to us [we know] what we do with it."

Gwarube added that Chief Whips' Forum was a consultative body, meeting behind closed doors, with no decision-making powers.

"I would really beg this committee to take themselves seriously," she said.

ANC MP and parliamentary counsellor to Deputy President David Mabuza, Hope Papo, said Gwarube was incorrect and that the Chief Whips' Forum helped political parties.

"This issue was sprung on us here!" he said. The matter was also discussed the previous week.

The Economic Freedom Fighters also raised the matter, and they too were referred to the "right forum".

Meanwhile, Parliament will still be without a secretary come 1 April.

Mapisa-Nqakula previously indicated that the position would be filled by that date. It has been vacant for the past five years, with Baby Tyawa acting in it.

"However, that's not worked out," Mapisa-Nqakula told the committee.

"We have worked very hard to ensure that we succeed in this assignment of getting a secretary of Parliament. We have not won."

She said they were working on a new advertisement for the post.

If it is not published this Sunday, it will be published by the next one.