The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Thursday demanded to know why President Jacob Zuma was entitled to a security detail inside the National Assembly – and whether the bouncers evicting its MPs are actually employed by Parliament.
“We know for a fact that Zuma’s bodyguard formed part of the entourage that came to remove EFF MPs on many occasions. In fact‚ the two men who came to specifically remove the CIC (commander in chief) Julius Malema are not members of the Protection Service‚ but Zuma’s bodyguards‚” national spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said in a statement.
“The whole country also witnessed that as the scuffle broke out‚ some of Zuma’s bodyguards came into the chamber to circle him. This is despite the fact that when in parliament‚ Zuma is bound by the same rules as the rest of other MPs. It means his bodyguards must not be functional in the house. He must be protected under the rules that protect other Members of Parliament.”
Ndlozi said that during the presidency budget vote when Parliamentary Protection Services came in to remove EFF MPs‚ the EFF had also questioned whether the people called on by the Speaker were Parliamentary Protection Services.
The EFF statement comes as African National Congress chief whip Jackson Mthembu told a news conference that Malema’s private security team had entered the parliamentary chamber with the Sergeant-at-Arms during Tuesday’s fractious session attended by President Jacob Zuma.
Mthembu said that ANC sources had seen that these individuals were protecting Malema.
Labelling this a security breach‚ he said the ANC wanted Parliament to conduct an investigation.
The EFF MPs are on an automatic suspension for five days starting from the date of their eviction from the House‚ Parliament said on Wednesday. A criminal complaint has also been lodged with the police after a glass entrance door to parliament was shattered‚ furniture damaged and clothes torn during the brawl.
EFF lashes out over Zuma bodyguards as ANC questions Malema security
“We know for a fact that Zuma’s bodyguard formed part of the entourage that came to remove EFF MPs on many occasions. In fact‚ the two men who came to specifically remove the CIC (commander in chief) Julius Malema are not members of the Protection Service‚ but Zuma’s bodyguards‚” national spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said in a statement.
“The whole country also witnessed that as the scuffle broke out‚ some of Zuma’s bodyguards came into the chamber to circle him. This is despite the fact that when in parliament‚ Zuma is bound by the same rules as the rest of other MPs. It means his bodyguards must not be functional in the house. He must be protected under the rules that protect other Members of Parliament.”
Ndlozi said that during the presidency budget vote when Parliamentary Protection Services came in to remove EFF MPs‚ the EFF had also questioned whether the people called on by the Speaker were Parliamentary Protection Services.
The EFF statement comes as African National Congress chief whip Jackson Mthembu told a news conference that Malema’s private security team had entered the parliamentary chamber with the Sergeant-at-Arms during Tuesday’s fractious session attended by President Jacob Zuma.
Mthembu said that ANC sources had seen that these individuals were protecting Malema.
Labelling this a security breach‚ he said the ANC wanted Parliament to conduct an investigation.
The EFF MPs are on an automatic suspension for five days starting from the date of their eviction from the House‚ Parliament said on Wednesday. A criminal complaint has also been lodged with the police after a glass entrance door to parliament was shattered‚ furniture damaged and clothes torn during the brawl.
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