Tuesday, January 16, 2024 – Parliament has said that Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MPs stand accused of disrupting another session, physically manhandled National Assembly officials and defied the Speaker’s rulings.
On Tuesday, the latest EFF disciplinary hearing in Parliament continued for a second day,
with more video evidence from President Cyril Ramaphosa's Presidency budget
vote in June 2022, which had to be abandoned.
Parliament maintains that there was a basis to charge the
MPs, who include spokesperson Sinawo Thambo and MP, Naledi Chirwa.
On Monday, the committee heard the evidence in chief of
National Assembly Secretary Masibulele Xaso who agreed that the EFF MPs were
guilty of violating the rules.
Continuing his evidence on Tuesday, Xaso said the MPs also
physically handled parliamentary officials.
"The sergeant-at-arms was pushed by the member, so the
member interfered in the performance of his duties and he pushed him and the
Speaker made note of that."
But in EFF's defence, Advocate Mfesane Ka-Siboto, questioned
the evidence and maintained that the process followed was unfair.
"As I say, as a matter of principle, you must accept
that you are therefore complainants and judges in respect of my members."
He also said that Parliament identified the wrong MP and
called for independent verification.
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