GROSS DISTORTION OF SPEAKER'S MESSAGE MISLEADS PUBLIC
Parliament, Thursday 25 September 2014 - So much has been made in the media about Speaker of the National Assembly Ms Baleka Mbete's frank and bold assertion in a meeting with the South African National Editors' Forum and senior journalists where she stated: "On 21 August I lost it..."
A media statement from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) yesterday wrongfully claimed that Ms Mbete had admitted she was "responsible for the collapse of the House on the 21st of August". The EFF went on to call for Parliament to drop disciplinary proceedings against some of its Members, due to start at the end of September. The proceedings follow the unprecedented disruption of the business of Parliament on 21 August.
This is gross and manipulative misrepresentation of what Ms Mbete said by someone who was not even at the meeting. The matter arose in response to a question and was not a point of focus at the highly productive meeting.
Responding to a question at the meeting, Ms Mbete said she had lost her temper for a moment when Members of the EFF persisted in chanting and disregarding her authority and directives from the chair during question time to President Jacob Zuma.
The matter regarding the incident of 21 August has since been referred to the Powers and Privileges Committee. Evidence in the proceedings will be led by an independent initiator - Advocate Randall van Voore.
The initiator has prepared notices stating the charges against each of the 20 Members against whom disciplinary proceedings are to be held. Some of the affected Members refused to receive the notices and their refusal has been recorded.
The meeting on Tuesday of Parliament's Presiding Officers with senior journalists is part of the fifth democratic Parliament's intention to champion a dialogue between Parliament and the people.
Parliament intends holding regular interactions similar to this with other components of the media and with the public as a whole.
Statement issued by Parliament, September 25 2014
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