By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MPs have pleaded not guilty to disruptive behaviour and failing to obey the Speaker’s orders during a Presidency budget vote and his oral response to the debate in 2022.
The Parliament Powers and Privileges Committee began another disciplinary hearing into EFF MPs on Monday.
The disruption of Ramaphosa’s speech came when EFF leader Julius Malema called on party members to disrupt all the president’s public appearances, over a controversy about the theft of foreign currency at his Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo. Malema contended that Ramaphosa had violated his oath of office by being involved in “money laundering”.
“Everywhere and anywhere we find or see Ramaphosa, and we have an opportunity to stop him from speaking in the name of South Africa, we will do so. We call upon all the fighters and the ground forces to start treating Ramaphosa as such,” Malema said at the time.
The South African Reserve Bank,Office of the Public Protector and SARS has, however, cleared Ramaphosa of wrongdoing.
After raising numerous points of order in parliament to disrupt Ramaphosa’s budget vote speech, all EFF MPs present in the National Assembly were ejected from the chamber, leading to physical altercations with security officials and delaying Ramaphosa’s speech.
The National Assembly’s power and privileges committee argued that the MPs disobeyed parliamentary laws that regulate the conduct of MPs.
- MPs are prohibited from participating in grossly disorderly conduct in the chamber and associated forums.
- If an MP refuses to leave the chamber upon a presiding officer’s order, the serjeant-at-arms is responsible for removing the MP from the chamber and parliamentary precincts.
- If necessary, the presiding officer may call upon the Parliamentary Protection Services (PPS) to assist in escorting the MP out of the chamber and precincts.
- In cases where an MP resists removal, both the serjeant-at-arms and the PPS may employ reasonable force to overcome resistance.
The MPs, including Natasha Ntlangwini and spokesperson Sinawo Tambo, are accused of failing to obey rulings and physically handling protection officers.
Ntlangwini and the rest pleaded not guilty.
“Chair, I plead not guilty to these concocted charges by the ANC government.”
EFF advocate, Mfesane Ka-Siboto, called for a postponement and the evidence baseless.
“There must be an independent fact-finding inquiry before you charge members. We need someone to decide on the facts. What we’ll deal with here is evidence that is baseless.”
The committee has decided to move ahead and invited its first witness, National Assembly Secretary Masibulele Xaso to give evidence.
If the EFF members are found guilty of these disruptions, they could face suspension without pay for up to 30 days and may incur fines not exceeding the equivalent of one month’s salary, according to the National Assembly’s power and privileges committee.
Watch Live in the video below:
Video Courtesy of Parliament.