EFF's ANARCHY
18 September 2014
Parliamentary questions time is a critical oversight tool MPs use to hold members of the axecutive accountable. It is in this spirit that deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa was in the National Assembly this afternoon: to answer probing questions from MPs in a transparent and open forum of Parliament. However, this was again seen by the EFF as a perfect opportunity for rascality merely to score few media headlines. Instead of asking a question to the deputy president, Julius Malema and his group of MPs hurled insults at him and called him a "murderer" (see eNCA report below).
As the Speaker ejected Malema and his lackey Floyed Shivambu for their rude, insulting and unsubstantiated accusations, Shivambu literally showed the Speaker the middle finger. This is what the EFF's role in Parliament is about: to disrupt, cause chaos, drive anarchy and render the institution unworkable. But militancy is not about 'rascality'. It is about using democratic forums to contribute persuasive and superior arguments to multiparty debates on behalf of constituencies -something Malema and his group of rascals knows nothing about.
Their conduct this afternoon yet again proves the correctness of Parliament's decision to haul them before the powers and privileges committee's disciplinary process for their rowdiness. It also proves that the accusation that the Speaker is biased is nothing but a blatant fabrication intended to justify its reprehensible conduct and divert attention from its obvious lack of substance in Parliament. Accusing anyone of murder in Parliament without factual evidence is a serious allegation that should never be made lightly or used as a publicity gimmick. It is malicious and defamatory. Even in a shebeen one cannot get away with such insults.
The Office of the ANC Chief Whip commends the Speaker for once again acting with fairness and firmness to preserve the dignity and decorum of the House.
Statement issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, September 18 2014
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