Speaker's inflammatory remarks further cause for sanctions

15 February 2015

ANC Chairperson and Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Baleka Mbete's comments at a party rally yesterday showed that before anything else, she is an ANC deployee, sent to the National Assembly to prioritise her party's interests ahead of our country's and the Constitution.

At the rally Mbete described Thursday's summoning of armed Public Order Police into Parliament as a "beautiful opportunity" to "deal with those irritants", and referred to a member of the opposition as a "cockroach", demonstrating her total disregard for the institution and her duties.

She is unapologetic, unfit to lead and determined to destroy Parliament.

On Friday, DA Parliamentary Leader, Mmusi Maimane MP, and I announced that the DA would refer Ms Mbete and National Council of Provinces Chairperson, Ms Thandi Modise, to the Powers and Privileges Committee for their conduct and the events that unfolded during the State of the Nation Address; we will now add Ms Mbete's recent inflammatory remarks to her charge sheet.

We will also seek an urgent meeting of the Parliamentary Oversight Authority, Parliament's highest coordinating body, prior to Tuesday's sitting.

We must have assurances that police will not again enter the chambers this week and compromise the freedoms and safety of MPs.

Statement issued by John Steenhuisen MP, DA Chief Whip, February 15 2015

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