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4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Deputy Speaker refers over 10 EFF members for discipline after Ramaphosa session chaos
Deputy Speaker Annelie Lotriet says she has referred disruptive EFF MPs to the Speaker, calling for disciplinary action after Tuesday's chaotic session during President Ramaphosa's Q&A in Parliament. Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Annelie Lotriet, says she is referring several Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Members of Parliament to the Speaker for possible disciplinary action following their disruption of President Cyril Ramaphosa's question and answer session on Tuesday. This comes after a heated sitting where multiple EFF MPs, both in the chamber and online, interrupted proceedings with repeated points of order. Lotriet confirmed in an interview with Newzroom Afrika that the next step is formal communication with Speaker Thoko Didiza. 'Yes, that was what I said, and that is how the process works. So what happens is that I now write to the Speaker with reports on the events and then also a recommendation.' She added that over ten members could be implicated, including those participating virtually: 'It's quite a few. I think in the region of 10 plus members because there were several members on the virtual platform, and that will also be part of the report.' Lotriet explained that the disruptions began when a member exceeded their allocated time to speak and refused to yield when instructed to do so. 'In terms of the rules, when the presiding officer indicates to you that your time has expired, that is it. And then you stop speaking. But unfortunately, this member went on and on and disregarded the authority of the presiding officer.' Another controversial point arose over the presence of two bodyguards during the session. Lotriet confirmed she had been informed they were protectors of the president and deputy president, respectively, and that they were seated in the gallery. 'They're not allowed if it's in the house, but in the gallery. And that is the information that I got. And that is why I also said that I will undertake to look into this matter,' she said. She added that the current use of the smaller Good Hope Chamber, due to the fire-damaged Parliament building, posed spatial and logistical challenges. 'So yes, that, granted, is not the ideal part was not clearly demarcated.' On whether the bodyguards knew they should not have been in that area, Lotriet said: 'That could be possible. That is why I said I will look into the matter. So, I cannot make any assumptions on their regard.' As for possible sanctions facing the EFF MPs, Lotriet said the matter would be handled by the Powers and Privileges Committee in accordance with legislation. 'It's on a scale from a reprimand going up to being suspended for a month from parliamentary activities, as well as losing out on a month's salary. But that will be up to the committee to decide.' She expressed disappointment at the disruption, stating it undermined Parliament's role and deprived South Africans of much-needed accountability. 'What happened now is that a number of members were denied the opportunity to pose questions to the president. And that is a disservice to the public.' Responding to accusations of bias from EFF leader Julius Malema, Lotriet defended her impartiality. 'I'm quite convinced that I did everything by the book. The bias is in the eye of the beholder.' She added that there are formal processes in Parliament to deal with such complaints. Lotriet highlighted the need for accountability and respect within the institution. 'This is a disservice. We are representatives of the people. It goes to more than just a bit of disruption. This goes about the respect for the dignity and the decorum of the House.' [email protected] Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
IOL News
7 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
EFF MPs face disciplinary action after chaotic Parliament session with Ramaphosa
. EFF MPs are in hot water for showing contempt to national Assembly Deputy Speaker Annelie Lotriet during a question and answer session by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday. Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers National Assembly Deputy Speaker Annelie Lotriet said she will refer the conduct of several EFF MPs to Speaker Thoko Didiza for a decision on whether they should be hauled to a disciplinary hearing. This comes after the House showed contempt to the rules and procedures of the House during Tuesday's question and answer session where President Cyril Ramaphosa was answering questions. 'I will refer to the Speaker for every member in contempt of the rules and procedures of this House and respect of the presiding officer. I will also refer to the powers and privileges committee,' Lotriet said. This happened less than a week after EFF leader Julius Malema failed in his Western Cape High Court bid to challenge a report by Parliament's Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests, ordering him to apologise to Judge Keoagile Matojane. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ During yesterday's proceedings EFF MPs, including Malema, were booted out after raising points of orders. EFF MP Omphile Maotwe was the first to be booted out when she spoke well beyond her speaking time as she was asking a follow up question to Ramaphosa on his recent visit to the US. The Constitutional Court had ruled the 'kill the farmer' song as a chant that did not amount to hate speech, Maotwe said. After her eviction, EFF MP Paulsen asked about the presence of two 'gentlemen' who were inside the Chamber - Lotriet later announced that they were bodyguards of either Ramaphosa or Deputy President Paul Mashatile and promised to find out. While the presence of the bodyguards was an issue for EFF MPs, Ramaphosa was allowed to respond to a question from BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane, who complained that he did not respond to his question. Malema interjected after Lotriet stated that it was the president's prerogative to answer. 'You can't say the president has the right to answer the way he likes. He is duty bound to answer to the satisfaction of the members. This is not a passing time session," he said. Lotriet and Malema got into a argument and in the process the presiding officer used her powers to evict the EFF leader. EFF MPs again raised the issue of the bodyguards repeatedly in their point of orders with Lotriet warning the MPs that they would be removed from the platform. Lotriet then started evicting EFF MPs from the Chamber and ordered the removal of others from the virtual platform as they persisted with point of orders. Among those removed from the virtual platform was EFF chief whip Nontando Noluntshungu while Sihle Lonzi was booted out of the Chamber. At one point EFF MP Sinawo Thambo asked why Ramaphosa was not addressing them virtually if he felt unsafe. 'Ask them to leave. We don't feel comfortable having people who are not elected,' he said. After fielding several questions on who the bodyguards were protecting, Lotriet revealed that one was there for Ramaphosa and another for Mashatile. While the matters were heating up, the bodyguards left the Chamber, but EFF MPs wanted their colleagues who were evicted over the bodyguard issues to be allowed back. Lotriet stood her ground and when it was time for Ramaphosa to continue to respond to the remaining questions, there was little time left for him to do so. She apologised to Ramaphosa and stated that the outstanding replies will be published and Didiza will decide what will happen next.
