EFF slams Parly for failing to verify if accused MP was present during disruption
The EFF has called into question the entire process to discipline its MPs accused of serious breaches of the National Assembly rules.
CAPE TOWN -The Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) has slammed Parliament for mistaken identity, saying one of its MPs accused of disruptive conduct was not even present during the chaos.
The EFF claimed this in the latest disciplinary hearing involving its MPs, this time for disrupting President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Presidency budget vote more than a year ago.
The party also wants an independent panel to first verify the facts before the case can continue.
The EFF has called into question the entire process to discipline its MPs accused of serious breaches of the National Assembly rules.
The party’s counsel, Advocate Mfesane Ka-Siboto also slammed National Assembly Secretary Masibulele Xaso for failing to verify whether their accused MP, Constance Mkhonto, was present.
"You have a seasoned advisor such as yourself, who has just confirmed you did not verify the identity of a member that you have positively under oath to be guilty of charges and now you concede you did not even verify their identity?"
Xaso conceded that he did not check the records and just followed the video evidence.
"And I did say to this committee that it’s possibly a mistaken identity on my part."
The hearing continues.