adminThe National Assembly’s Rules Committee will convene a special meeting Wednesday to discuss the recent removal of EFF MP Julius Malema and his suspension from parliament.
Malema was ejected from the chamber last Wednesday after he repeatedly refused to withdraw his previous comments that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was a murderer, referring to the shooting of 34 mine workers at Marikana more than three years ago.
Malema was suspended with immediate effect for five parliamentary working days. His removal and immediate suspension were effected in terms of the new procedures outlined in Rule 53(A) and 54 that were passed in July. In terms of the Rule 53 procedures, a disorderly MP is removed by unarmed Parliamentary Protection Services only after he or she refuses to obey the order of the presiding officer to leave the chamber and subsequently refusing to be escorted out of the chamber by the sergeant-at arms.
If the MP is removed, rule 54 can be applied which makes provision for an immediate suspension from parliament for a specified period.
Meanwhile, DA Chief Whip John Steenhuisen believes that the wrong rule was applied to remove Malema.
He says the DA will make a submission to the rules committee when it discusses the issue Wednesday.
Steenhuisen says there was no disruption to proceedings to warrant a physical removal of Malema.
“This was the end of the day and there was no further business of the day. It would have been far more appropriate to name Mr Malema, she could have then in consultation the following day have suspended Mr Malema,” says Steenhuisen. – sabc news
Online Reporter