Plato loses it, shouting ‘Shut up, shut up’ at Ozinsky
COMMUNITY Safety MEC Dan Plato lost his cool and repeatedly shouted “Shut up, shut up” at ANC MPL Max Ozinsky at a sitting of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature yesterday.
Plato has been the target of the ANC’s attacks after allegations and counter-allegations surfaced in the legislature last week that both parties were linked to gangsters.
“Mr Plato, you are going too far now. You must withdraw the words ‘shut up’ please,” Deputy Speaker Piet Pretorius told Plato after he stood up for the second time. “You can’t just jump up and then have a speech here, we can’t allow that.”
Plato was responding to statements Ozinsky made during a three-minute personal explanation Pretorius granted him.
The rules of the legislature do not allow for debate after such a statement.
Ozinsky asked for the opportunity after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Rodney de Kock, said on Tuesday he would not take any further steps to investigate allegations that Ozinsky, ANC provincial chairman Marius Fransman and senior policeman Jeremy Vearey were involved in gangs, drugs, gun and drug running.
The allegations stem from an affidavit Plato forwarded to the public protector earlier this year, which was referred to the DPP. Ozinsky said he felt vindicated but remained concerned about Plato’s role.
He asked Plato to explain his involvement in drawing up the affidavits. “What steps did MEC Plato take to verify the allegations and the person making them, before he distributed them to various forces?” he asked.
DA chief whip Alta Rossouw said Ozinsky was busy with an attack on Plato. “He is misusing his opportunity,” she said. Ozinsky denied it was a personal attack. Pretorius allowed Ozinsky to continue, but warned against personal attacks.
Premier Helen Zille said it was for the public protector to decide the merit of the affidavit. Ozinsky turned his attention to Zille and asked what her and her cabinet’s role was. Pretorius had to call the sitting to order three times.
Plato replied to Ozinsky: “Let me say it is not my information. It is information in an affidavit by a member of the public.” A screaming match continued to a point where Rossouw walked over to Plato to ask him to sit down.
Zille asked for three minutes to reply to Ozinsky. “Seeing that the honourable member Ozinsky abused his point of explanation in order to attack other members and to pose questions, I now propose to you I have three minutes to reply,” she said.
ANC MPLs answered her with a loud “No”. Pretorius said he couldn’t grant her request as the rules of the legislature didn’t allow it. “Your ruling has opened the door for massive abuse,” Zille said.
ANC chief whip Pierre Uys pushed Pretorius to rule on Zille’s statement. “My ruling is that I’m stopping this debate on this thing now. If the premier is unhappy with that ruling she can certainly take it up.”
Your ruling has opened the door for massive abuse