EFF jump to protect Thuli

SHIVAMBU: ‘SHE WAS SUBJECTED TO PERSONAL ATTACKS‘

Complaint lodged on unparliamentary treatment of the public protector.

The EFF have lodged a formal complaint with the speaker of parliament on the conduct of the members of the justice portfolio committee during the appearance of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

This followed criticism of Madonsela during her presentation of the budget for her office.

“We expect the speaker to take appropriate action against the chairperson of the committee, Mathole Motshekga, and other members of the committee who conducted themselves contrary to the Rules of Parliament,” spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said in a statement.

Madonsela was lambasted during the meeting on Wednesday by Motshekga, who referred to her “supporters in the DA”.

She was then told by ANC MP Bongani Bongo she was “behaving like the DA” while speaking to her colleague during question time.

Coming to her aid was the DA’s Glynnis Breytenbach and Werner Horn, who asked Motshekga to behave neutrally.

EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu said in the letter of complaint: “During her appearance, the public protector was subjected to personal, unprofessional and unparliamentary attacks by members of the justice portfolio committee, particularly its chairperson honourable Mathole Motshekga.

“The public protector recorded her concern that members ... were personally attacking her, and the chairperson of the committee did not do anything to protect her, because he was at the forefront of the personal and unparliamentary attacks on the person of the public protector.”

He also said members of the portfolio committee accused her of working with the DA, she was coerced to apologise for previously making reflections on a high court judgment, Motshekga “childishly” prevented her from conferring with the deputy public protector, Kevin Malunga, “with an unjustifiable and unprecedented claim that she is not listening when members are speaking”.

“There is no rule in parliament that prevents those appearing before it to confer with each other during committee hearings,” said Shivambu.

“The chairperson rudely insisted the public protector finished answering her questions even when she said she is still responding to questions members of parliament asked, which is a constitutional and legislative obligation, he added. –