EFF MPs identified as disorder culprits
ECONOMIC Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema and 19 of his fellow MPs were yesterday identified as being the group responsible for the disorder that erupted in the National Assembly on August 21.
The secretary to the National Assembly, Masibulele Xaso, testifying in the disciplinary process against the EFF MPs in Parliament, was shown raw video footage of the events that unfolded.
Xaso was given a pointer and asked to identify each EFF politician by name from the footage, which was shown via a projector.
“The member I am pointing at now would be the honourable (Makoti) Khawula. Then honourable Malema, honourable (Floyd) Shivambu,” Xaso told Parliament’s powers and privileges committee.
He went on to identify each of the other 17 MPs who were seen chanting and singing in the House after National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete suspended proceedings after the EFF refused to obey her instruction to “leave the House”.
Mbete had tried to boot out the EFF MPs after they disrupted President Jacob Zuma’s question time by chanting at him: “Pay back the money!”
They were referring to the R246 million in state funds spent on his private Nkandla homestead, a portion of which Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has recommended he repay.
The disciplinary process is continuing in the absence of the 20 MPs, who face contempt of Parliament charges.
The accused MPs withdrew from the process on Tuesday, following a statement made by Malema who attacked the legitimacy of the committee.– Sapa