MBOMBELA – The DA’s chief whip in the Mpumalanga Legislature, Ms Jane Sithole, says the speaker seems to have an axe to grind with her, as the latter, Ms Thandi Shongwe, kicked her out of a legislature sitting for no apparent reason. This was during a sitting on Thursday when education and agriculture tabled their budgets to the house.
“I don’t know how to explain this one. During a sitting, someone may be unruly, and then she gives them a few warnings. I can’t even remember what I said. She didn’t say I must withdraw it or that I did something wrong. She really needs to give me reasons. She warned Mr Anthony Benadie] a number of times without kicking him out. But she didn’t give me a single warning.”
- Read about the Speaker booting the DA out of the legislature.
Rule 40 of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature Rules and Orders gives the speaker the unilateral power to eject a member of the legislature from the house, only if the presiding officer is of the opinion that a member is deliberately contravening a provision of the Rules, the Constitution or any other law, is in contempt of the legislature, is disregarding the authority of the presiding officer or is grossly disorderly.
“If she had said, ‘I warned you and you carried on’, that is the normal procedure of the house. But this was not warranted. If a person is grossly misbehaving and won’t settle down, kicking them out is the last resort.”
Sithole says the DA has not been allowed to record legislature sittings since the so-called “sex-worker” dress incident. On Tuesday Shongwe officially apologised for her attack on the dignity of Sithole during the dress debacle in March. Sithole was not wearing the dress on Thursday.
“I don’t know if she is bitter that she had to apologise in public and admit that her conduct was unparliamentary. We have to seek legal advise on the fact that she has the power to unilaterally eject someone from the house.”
Shongwe’s was contacted for comment but did not respond.
