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- Parliament’s Powers and Privileges Committee agreed on sanctions for 16 EFF MPs who disrupted Minister Pravin Gordhan’s 2019 departmental budget speech.
- It has been recommended that two FEP deputies be suspended without pay for a period not exceeding 30 days.
- The remaining 14 members of the FEP will be fined no more than the equivalent of one month’s salary and benefits.
Two EFF MPs who were part of a group that stormed onto the stage as Public Business Minister Pravin Gordhan was delivering a speech will be suspended without pay, while others will receive heavy fines.
With the exception of the EFF, all members of the Committee on Powers and Privileges of Parliament agreed on the sanctions against the deputies involved.
Defender Ncumisa Mayosi, presented as an outside initiator, briefed the committee on Wednesday about the charges against the party.
“The conduct of affected members destroyed orderly and robust debate and participation. It is respectfully stated that the conduct had the characteristics of a designed, concerted, and carefully coordinated effort to, among other things, disrupt House proceedings,” she He said.
READ | EFF MPs Who Interrupted Pravin Gordhan’s 2019 Budget Speech Found Guilty Of Misconduct
Mayosi said that in 2014, EFF Nokulanga MPs Primrose Sonti and Nthako Sam Matiase were found guilty of contempt of Parliament.
They were part of a group of 20 EFF MPs who were found guilty of booing former President Jacob Zuma at his home in Nkandla. At the center of the charges were the disturbances the group had caused.
In the present process, as a consequence of their conduct on July 11, 2019, they have once again been found guilty of the same charge. In Matiase’s case, the committee found him guilty on seven counts, and the Honorable Sonti has been found guilty. guilty of five counts “.
Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan.
He added: “Each of those charges and determinations of contempt is serious. It is maintained that the multiple and deliberate acts of serious contempt deserve a duly serious penalty.”
It is further held that anything that is not a serious enough sanction will indicate that the rules of the National Assembly, that the rules that the members of the House collectively impose on themselves, can be ignored, observed only in the infraction and transgressed without fear or concern about serious consequences. consequence.
READ | EFF’s Paulsen, DA’s Van Damme kicked out of the National Assembly
It recommended the suspension of Sonti and Matiase without remuneration for a period not exceeding 30 days.
“This will apply whether the National Assembly or any of its committees is scheduled to meet during that period,” he said.
Twelve other EFF MPs were also found guilty on charges similar to Matiase’s.
These 12 members faced five counts of contempt of Parliament:
- Khanya Criminal
- Chosini Chabangu
- Thokozane Langa
- Brian madlingozi
- Mathibe Mohlala
- Montwedi Assistant
- Thembi Msane
- Dumisane Mthenjani
- Nazier paulsen
- Henry shembeni
- Annacleta Siwisa
- Lorato Tito
Ntokozo Hlonyana and Rosina Komane had each been convicted of seven counts of contempt. Their charges included knowingly engaging in conduct that created serious disorder or disturbance in the chamber when they crossed the room during the trial.
“Taken individually, each of these charges is serious. Contempt in the manner of creating or participating in a riot, of which these members have been found guilty, is in itself a very serious form of contempt and would justify a penalty or penalties. “Mayosi said.
READ HERE | EFF MPs accused of disrupting SONA off the hook, but Gordhan attack has yet to be investigated
Mayosi recommended a fine not to exceed the equivalent of a month’s salary and allowances.
Earlier this month, the EFF set out to challenge the constitutionality of the Law on Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Provincial Parliaments and Legislatures. This legislation was used to prosecute its members.
According to committee chair Philly Mapulane, the request was dismissed. An appeal was also later dismissed and ultimately dropped.
The committee was expected to formally make its decision in April.
