DOCUMENTS

Conduct of EFF MPs to be investigated - Baleka Mbete

Speaker says the disruption of presidential questions has been referred to Powers and Privileges Committee (Aug 26)

Extract from the Minutes of Proceedings of the National Assembly, Parliament, Tuesday, August, 26 2014

1. The House met at 14:06.

2. The Speaker took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.

3. The Speaker made an announcement in respect of events that happened in the House on Thursday, 21 August 2014, as follows: Hon members, on Thursday, 21 August 2014, during Questions to the President in the National Assembly, an incident involving members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) led to the disruption of proceedings, to the extent that the House had to be adjourned in terms of Rule 56 and the Assembly was prevented from finalising its scheduled business for that day.

I have to inform the House that the matter is being referred to the Powers and Privileges Committee in terms of Rule 194, the committee to investigate whether the conduct of the members of the Economic Freedom Fighters constitutes contempt of Parliament in terms of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, 2004 (No 4 of 2004).

The committee is being requested to deal with this as a matter of urgency, with due regard to the Rules of the National Assembly and the Schedule to the Rules, and to submit a report on its findings and recommendations in terms of Rule 194(2)(b) at the earliest opportunity.

Hon members, while the Powers and Privileges Committee is considering the matter I also wish to inform the House that I am considering the implementation of Item 10 of the Schedule to the Rules, which makes provision for the suspension of members where the allegations against them are of a very serious nature. To this end, I am affording the members concerned an opportunity to give reasons in writing why they should not be suspended. This is in terms of Item 11 of the Schedule.

The House will be kept informed of developments in this regard.

Source: Parliament

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