EFF MPs Walk Out of Powers and Privileges Committee


By Oliver Ngwenya    08-Oct-2014 06:28 UTC+02:00

effThe Economic Freedom Fighters Members of Parliament on Tuesday walked out of the Parliament’s Powers and Privileges Committee, citing the fact that the committee was in favour of the ANC as most of the members belonged to the ruling party and could therefore not make a sound ruling on the matter.

The twenty members of the EFF are facing charges of disrupting parliamentary proceedings on 21 August during the question and answer session where the president was attempting to show that he made adequate response to the Nkandla debacle. When EFF Leader, Julius Malema asked the president when he would pay back the money as recommended by Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela and no straightforward response was forthcoming from the president, all Hell broke loose. The EFF MPs started chanting, “pay back the money”. Attempts by the Speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete, were obviously ineffective as the shouting continued unabated. In the end, she had to solicit the assistance of the House of Assembly Sergeant-at-arms. The EFF MPs were however unmoved, resulting in that proceedings in the house had to be adjourned.

On Tuesday, the twenty EFF members who are being charged with disrupting parliamentary proceedings walked out of the meeting of the Powers and Privileges, citing the dominance of the ANC MPs in the committee as showing that they would not get a fair hearing. The EFF leader, Julius Malema said they had decided to leave the committee because the ANC was ‘ acting as complainant, judge and jury in the case as its members dominated the committee.’ Also confirming their decision to leave the committee, party spokesman, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said that his party would not be treated as workers in the plantation of the ANC as well as that of Baleka Mbete. If found guilty, the twenty members can face up to to fourteen days suspension from their parliamentary duties.


Leave a comment