WATCH: Lechesa Tsenoli scores own goal against EFF MP in parliament
The speaker says the word 'anarchist' is a political statement, but has a problem with it being used on him.
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Deputy speaker in the National Assembly Lechesa Tsenoli was involved in a war of words with EFF MP Khonziwe Hlonyana over the word “anarchist”, which was used to describe the red berets in parliament on Tuesday.
Hlonyana stood up on a point of order and asked Tsenoli to call on Freedom Front+ MP Wouter Wessels to withdraw the word “anarchist”, which he had used to describe the EFF, a request he immediately turned down.
Wessels used the word to slam the EFF following a video of Eckhard Binding picking up litter and putting it in a trash bin, only for two waiting female EFF members to throw it back on the ground.
He said: “There are parties in this house that are only seeking anarchy, violence, and who are not interested in building a better South Africa for all. We need more people like Binding who take a stand against anarchists like the EFF. We should not allow anarchists to win.”
But Tsenoli said the word was a “political statement”.
He said: “Honourable member, that’s a political statement, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
But Hlonyana was not backing down, and neither was Tsenoli.
As a last resort, Hlonyana called Tsenoli an anarchist to see how he would react to it, and he played right into the trap.
He said: “Okay, honourable member, you will withdraw that now,” to which she responded: “Why? Why must I withdraw? You said he must not withdraw, why must I withdraw when I say it’s you?”
The reason he gave was that Hlonyana did not understand the rules.
Watch the hilarious exchange below:
(Compiled by Vhahangwele Nemakonde)
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