30 'Bouncers' Preparing to Deal With Malema in Parliament
Sources confirmed the individuals were either former or current members of the SA Police Service
JAN-JAN JOUBERT AND BABALO NDENZE
06 AUGUST 2015
PARLIAMENT is bracing itself for conflict when President Jacob Zuma takes questions from MPs.
Last night, for more than an hour and behind locked doors, individuals with newly issued parliamentary staff permits practised how to chuck out supposedly unruly elements from the National Assembly.
Earlier, during lunch time, the burly bouncer types, believed to number 30, were seen being issued with parliamentary permits and word quickly spread that they would be used to kick out Economic Freedom Fighters members should they try to disrupt proceedings.
Sources confirmed the individuals were either former or current members of the SA Police Service.
A hint of what might happen was unwittingly given away by Nkandla ad hoc committee chairman Cedrick Frolick yesterday.
“I don‘t care what happens in the House tomorrow afternoon. We will reconvene the meeting immediately after the presidential question-and-answer session,” he said.
Parliamentary staff confirmed they had been given permission to go home early today.
After corruption-related charges were struck off the roll by the Polokwane High Court against him on Tuesday, EFF leader Julius Malema said he would be facing Zuma in parliament this afternoon.
Acting parliamentary spokes-man Estelle Randall refused to say whether the spotted individuals would be in action in the National Assembly this afternoon.
Parliament has constantly claimed that protection services issues are “operational” and therefore cannot be revealed. It has also refused to provide information on the use of a car fitted with a police-type blue light by parliamentary secretary Gengezi Mgidlana.
These issues led to a big fallout at a closed meeting of the parliamentary oversight committee when acting chairman and deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli adjourned proceedings as the two issues came up on the agenda, citing “a commitment with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association”.
DA chief whip John Steenhuisen warned the meeting this would have consequences today.
He moved a motion saying the oversight committee was not effective and that Tsenoli‘s move was cynical and short-sighted.
He said a new way would have to be found to exercise oversight over the institution.
“I have never been this angry in parliament. It was clear from the start what the ANC‘s plan was.
Although I had informed Speaker Baleka Mbete of the issues of the blue light car and the securitisation of parliament having to be put onto the agenda, she conveniently forgot to do so,” he said.
“I nevertheless succeeded in adding it to the agenda, and it was clear that the secretary to parliament was very uneasy.”
This article first appeared in The Times
JAN-JAN JOUBERT AND BABALO NDENZE
06 AUGUST 2015
PARLIAMENT is bracing itself for conflict when President Jacob Zuma takes questions from MPs.
Last night, for more than an hour and behind locked doors, individuals with newly issued parliamentary staff permits practised how to chuck out supposedly unruly elements from the National Assembly.
Earlier, during lunch time, the burly bouncer types, believed to number 30, were seen being issued with parliamentary permits and word quickly spread that they would be used to kick out Economic Freedom Fighters members should they try to disrupt proceedings.
Sources confirmed the individuals were either former or current members of the SA Police Service.
A hint of what might happen was unwittingly given away by Nkandla ad hoc committee chairman Cedrick Frolick yesterday.
“I don‘t care what happens in the House tomorrow afternoon. We will reconvene the meeting immediately after the presidential question-and-answer session,” he said.
Parliamentary staff confirmed they had been given permission to go home early today.
After corruption-related charges were struck off the roll by the Polokwane High Court against him on Tuesday, EFF leader Julius Malema said he would be facing Zuma in parliament this afternoon.
Acting parliamentary spokes-man Estelle Randall refused to say whether the spotted individuals would be in action in the National Assembly this afternoon.
Parliament has constantly claimed that protection services issues are “operational” and therefore cannot be revealed. It has also refused to provide information on the use of a car fitted with a police-type blue light by parliamentary secretary Gengezi Mgidlana.
These issues led to a big fallout at a closed meeting of the parliamentary oversight committee when acting chairman and deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli adjourned proceedings as the two issues came up on the agenda, citing “a commitment with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association”.
DA chief whip John Steenhuisen warned the meeting this would have consequences today.
He moved a motion saying the oversight committee was not effective and that Tsenoli‘s move was cynical and short-sighted.
He said a new way would have to be found to exercise oversight over the institution.
“I have never been this angry in parliament. It was clear from the start what the ANC‘s plan was.
Although I had informed Speaker Baleka Mbete of the issues of the blue light car and the securitisation of parliament having to be put onto the agenda, she conveniently forgot to do so,” he said.
“I nevertheless succeeded in adding it to the agenda, and it was clear that the secretary to parliament was very uneasy.”
This article first appeared in The Times
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