EFF accuses Parliament speaker of applying house rules inconsistently
The powers and privileges committee continued hearings on Tuesday related to the EFF MPs who disrupted President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Presidency Budget Vote speech in the National Assembly in June 2022.
Parliament Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula in Parliament on Thursday, 29 September 2022. Picture: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has accused Parliament Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula of inconsistently applying rules when she ordered the removal of ten of its MPs two years ago.
The powers and privileges committee continued hearings on Tuesday related to the EFF MPs who disrupted President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Presidency Budget Vote speech in the National Assembly in June 2022.
But the EFF argues that its MPs were also subjected to unparliamentary behaviour by other parties and were treated unfairly.
The hearing was delayed in January due to the ill health of late former chairperson Violet Siwela.
EFF counsel Adv Mfesane kaSiboto continued the hearing by cross-examining National Assembly Secretary Masibulele Xaso, who advises the speaker.
He told Xaso that EFF MPs were not afforded the same treatment and were called names like murderers and VBS looters.
"I am suggesting to you there is that bias and inconsistency again."But Xaso denied any bias by the speaker.
"I dispute that strongly, there is no bias and there is no inconsistency."
The hearing continues but after the committee withdrew charges against two MPs leaving only eight facing charges.