EFF MPs face docking of salaries
SIXTEEN EFF MPs face the prospect of their salaries being docked for a month after they were found guilty of various charges of contempt of Parliament.
The MPs are said to have blocked Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan from delivering his budget vote speech in July 2019.
Their conduct was referred to the Powers and Privileges Committee after an investigation by the sub-committee on physical removal of members from the chamber.
The sub-committee found that their conduct halted Gordhan from delivering his speech and/or intimidated him, which constituted a breach of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act.
When the matter came to the committee, the EFF objected to it.
This did not stop advocate Ncumisa Mayosi from initiating the inquiry which found them guilty in absentia.
Yesterday Mayosi presented her submission on the mitigating and aggravating factors on the case.
Prior to her presentation, committee chairperson Philly Mapulane said the charged members were found guilty on March 4, and the decision was communicated to them.
“We invited them to make representations on the sanctions that this committee (imposed) after returning a guilty verdict,” Mapulane said.
He also said they had not received any representations other than a letter from their attorney, requesting a postponement of sanctions until a review application was finalised.
“We took a view that we have to proceed with this because there is nothing legally stopping this committee from proceeding,” Mapulane said.
Mayosi maintained that the affected members had not taken up the opportunity to present mitigating factors.
“They have since launched legal proceedings in the Western Cape High Court seeking various forms of relief, none of which include interdicting and preventing the continuation of the present process,” she said.
Mayosi stressed that the charges of contempt of Parliament were serious.
Two of the MPs have been found guilty of similar conduct and penalties were imposed.
“I am advised none of the penalties were implemented by Parliament.”
She recommended that the two MPs should face suspension without remuneration for a period not exceeding 30 days.
A fine not exceeding the equivalent of one month’s salary and allowances should be imposed on the 14 others, she said.
DA MP Haniff Hoosen said he was in agreement with recommendation on the repeat offenders and that sanction on the additional MPs be implemented.
ANC MP Violet Sizani Siwela said: “To be able to educate all of us public representatives to behave well in the House and protect the decorum of the House, I believe we need to support her submission,” Siwela said.
Her colleague Dipuo Peters said the sanction would help deal with issues that have an impact on decorum in the House. She felt that heavier sanctions should be imposed on the repeat offenders.
EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi asked his party’s objections to be noted to the “entire” recommendations.
Mapulane said it was the committee’s decision that the arguments and the submissions of Mayosi were accepted.
He also said the 2014 sanction on the two MPs should be implemented.
Once the committee staff has prepared a report, it will then be adopted and sent to the National Assembly.