EFF leader Julius Malema and his 19 MPs are off the hook and no longer face suspension for 30 days without pay as recommended by the powers and privileges committee.
This was announced yesterday by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as leader of government business in parliament, following a meeting with leaders of political parties where the chaotic scenes that have recently played out in parliament were discussed.
Asked if this meant the decision to suspend Malema and his MPs was on hold, Ramaphosa said:
“Yes, because we’re going to find political solutions, as a collective of political leaders.
“Watch this space because what we want to do as leaders of our people in South Africa is to restore parliament to its standing so that our people can look at all of us and say, yes, these people do represent us.”
The report of the powers and privileges committee, which recommends the suspension of EFF MPs, was scheduled to be debated by the NA yesterday but it was taken off the agenda at the 11th-hour.
Sizani said the decision to temporarily let the EFF off the hook did not mean they could get away with anything.
“Everybody is going to be bound by the collective decision we will adopt at the end of the session,” he said.
For his part, Maimane, like the rest of the DA caucus, arrived in parliament dressed in an all-black outfit to mourn “the death of democracy” in South Africa.
He said: “We had strong discussion about the speaker and we got him (Ramaphosa) to agree to say she’ll obey all the rules.”
Ramaphosa also had words for Mbete.
“The impartiality of the speaker is precisely what we were talking about and the principle that we all reaffirmed is that the presiding officers in parliament must be impartial.
“They must apply all rules consistently without favour or any prejudice.”
No suspension for EFF MPs as political solution favoured
This was announced yesterday by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as leader of government business in parliament, following a meeting with leaders of political parties where the chaotic scenes that have recently played out in parliament were discussed.
Asked if this meant the decision to suspend Malema and his MPs was on hold, Ramaphosa said:
“Yes, because we’re going to find political solutions, as a collective of political leaders.
“Watch this space because what we want to do as leaders of our people in South Africa is to restore parliament to its standing so that our people can look at all of us and say, yes, these people do represent us.”
The report of the powers and privileges committee, which recommends the suspension of EFF MPs, was scheduled to be debated by the NA yesterday but it was taken off the agenda at the 11th-hour.
Sizani said the decision to temporarily let the EFF off the hook did not mean they could get away with anything.
“Everybody is going to be bound by the collective decision we will adopt at the end of the session,” he said.
For his part, Maimane, like the rest of the DA caucus, arrived in parliament dressed in an all-black outfit to mourn “the death of democracy” in South Africa.
He said: “We had strong discussion about the speaker and we got him (Ramaphosa) to agree to say she’ll obey all the rules.”
Ramaphosa also had words for Mbete.
“The impartiality of the speaker is precisely what we were talking about and the principle that we all reaffirmed is that the presiding officers in parliament must be impartial.
“They must apply all rules consistently without favour or any prejudice.”
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