EFF MPs found guilty of misconduct to make representations to Parliament
The 16 EFF MPs found guilty of misconduct for storming the stage during Gordhan's budget vote will get the chance to tell their side of the story.
File picture. EFF members during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s question and answer session in Parliament on August 22, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa. Ramaphosa answered questions in the National Assembly for the first time in the sixth administration since he was inaugurated as the country’s president in May this year. (Photo by Gallo Images/ Jeffrey Abrahams)
Sixteen EFF MPs will have an opportunity to make representations to parliament’s Powers and Privileges Committee after they were found guilty on several charges of misconduct for disrupting Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan’s budget vote in Parliament two years ago
The committee on Thursday found overwhelming evidence that the MPs had broken parliament’s rules and the Powers and Privileges Act when storming Gordhan’s budget vote speech in July 2019.
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The EFF MPs were physically ejected from the chamber with scuffles ensuing among parliamentarians and security staff after they walked up to the podium in protest against Gordhan, who was at the time implicated in two controversial reports by the Public Protector.
The EFF did not take part in the committee’s hearings last year that investigated their conduct and the party also did not agree with the guilty finding made by MPs on Thursday.
But before a sanction can be imposed, the committee’s chairperson Philly Mapulane said the EFF MPs will be given a chance to tell their side of the story.
“We must allow the members [who have been found guilty] a chance to make representations before a sanction can be imposed. Those members found guilty, a communique will be sent to them and they will be given an opportunity to make representations.
“As soon as we receive the representation within the stipulated time frames, we will then convene a meeting of this committee to consider the representation and to finalise on the sanctions,” he said.
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