ATTEMPT BY THE EFF TO DISTRACT THE HOUSE SITTING OF THE GAUTENG LEGISLATURE FAILS
The Gauteng Legislature view today's incident by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) as unfortunate and a deliberate attempt to disrupt the House Sitting. This after members of the EFF, led by their party leader Julius Malema, forced entry into the Legislature and embarked on illegal activities within the premises, including looting food catered for the Sitting, assaulting members of South African Police Service, throwing broken bottles at the Legislature building and vandalising the Legislature property in the effort to gain entrance into the House Sitting.
The Standing Rules of the Legislature forbids MPLs from dressing in contempt of the Rules. Once elected the MPLs serve all the people of Gauteng regardless of their political affiliations.
The Legislature convened its 5th House Sitting to consider and debate the budget of the province. Members of the EFF were dressed in contravention of the Rules during the Opening of the Legislature in Thokoza on 27 June 2014, and were warned against this behaviour as it is not allowed during Sittings. However, in the Sitting of 1 July 2014, members of the EFF again attended the House Sitting not appropriately dressed.
The Legislature Speaker requested them to present themselves in the House Sitting dressed in an appropriate manner as directed by the Rules. The Speaker therefore made a ruling that: "...I therefore make a ruling that all Members of the Legislature must dress appropriately in Formal or Traditional wear when conducting the business of the Legislature, failing which such Members who violate the Standing Rules and Orders will be ejected from the House and may face further appropriate sanction".
This was followed by a request by the Speaker for the Hon. Members of the EFF to leave the Sitting as they were in contempt of the Rules. After refusing to leave the House, members of the SAPS and GPL Safety and Security removed them from the House.
Today the EFF MPLs still presented themselves dressed in contempt of the Rules. Thus their seats in the House remained unoccupied as the MPLs opted to act in defiance to the House Rules, instead of constructively engaging in debates in the House, where they were included in the Speaking List.
While the Sitting was in session, EFF protesters unlawfully entered the GPL precinct through the restricted entrance, which is reserved for use during special ceremonies of the Legislature. Upon gaining entrance into the building, the EFF continued their protests inside the building, attempting to force entry into the Chamber and causing disruptions to the proceedings of the House.
It is important to state that the EFF was granted permission to march to the GPL to hand over a memorandum in line with the Regulations of Gatherings Act . The EFF leader was expected to hand over a memorandum to the Acting Speaker, Hon. Uhuru Moiloa, who was waiting for him at the Legislature Piazza at 11:30 as had been agreed. The Honourable Acting Speaker waited at the Piazza for three hours for the memorandum to be delivered. However, the EFF leader instead of handing over the memorandum, he decided to force entry into the chamber and attempted to disrupt the proceedings of the House.
Notwithstanding ongoing provocations and violent actions by the EFF for the entire day, which posed a threat to the safety of the representatives of the people of Gauteng, MPLs and employees within the precinct, the House Sitting still continued as planned.
Statement issued by the Acting Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature: Hon. Uhuru Moiloa, July 22 2014
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