EFF Leader Malema Kicked Out of South African Parliament
Thursday 19 June 2014 20:37
SABC
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema was kicked out after clashing with National Council of Provinces (NCOP) chairperson Thandi Modise on Thursday.
Malema refused to withdraw the remarks he made on Wednesday during a debate on the State of the Nation Address. Malema said the ANC massacred the mine workers in Marikana two years ago. However, Modise ruled that making such allegations was unparliamentary.
Other party members then staged the walked out in his support.
"I have arrived at the conclusion that the statements made by honourable Malema are unparliamentary and do not accord with the decorum of this house," says Modise.
Modise said that while freedom of speech was allowed in Parliament, it was subject to limitations imposed by the constitution.
"The statement made by honourable Malema suggests that the government, which is made up of members of this House, deliberately decided to massacre people. This does not only impute improper motive but also accused them of murder."
Modise then asked Malema to withdraw his remarks. Instead of withdrawing, Malema replied: "Chair, when police reduce crime you come here and say the ANC has reduced crime. When police kill people, you don't want us to come here and say the ANC government has killed people. That is inconsistent, Honourable Chair."
Modise again insisted Malema withdraw his statement. "I'm sorry, I won't do that," a defiant Malema said.
Modise said she had no alternative but to ask the fiery EFF leader to "leave the House". Malema and his fellow EFF MPs started filing out of the House, but not before disrupting proceedings.
Several EFF MPs started switching on their mics and shouting accusations at both Modise and those in ANC benches.
"The ANC murdered people" and "you were the premier when people were killed" reverberated through the house, resulting in Modise asking ushers to escort the EFF members out of the chamber.
ANC Member of Parliament, Mamoloko Kubayi has meanwhile called for an inquiry into the conduct of Malema and other EFF members.
"In terms of the rules and in term of the code of conduct, the members of EFF have really brought this house into disrepute. I would like to request that a proper process is put in place to investigate the conduct and therefore action be taken," says Kubayi.
Sisulu ordered to withdraw Maimane remarks
Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu was also forced on Thursday to withdraw her remark to a joint sitting of Parliament calling DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane a native for hire.
Sisulu duly retracted the remark after Modise said there was nothing unparliamentary about the term native, but found that the context in which the minister used it was offensive.
"If you however put these words together in one sentence ... as the minister put it, it is offensive and may allude to the stereotype that natives are always for hire," Modise said.
After Maimane's maiden speech in Parliament in the debate on President Jacob Zuma's SONA, she said he had had his dream of becoming premier of Gauteng shattered since the ANC won that province.
In the offending remark, she then went on to suggest that he had now been hand-picked by DA leader Helen Zille to do her bidding "now that madam has found another hired native to play second fiddle".
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| Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema removed from parliament on June 19, 2014. |
SABC
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema was kicked out after clashing with National Council of Provinces (NCOP) chairperson Thandi Modise on Thursday.
Malema refused to withdraw the remarks he made on Wednesday during a debate on the State of the Nation Address. Malema said the ANC massacred the mine workers in Marikana two years ago. However, Modise ruled that making such allegations was unparliamentary.
Other party members then staged the walked out in his support.
"I have arrived at the conclusion that the statements made by honourable Malema are unparliamentary and do not accord with the decorum of this house," says Modise.
Modise said that while freedom of speech was allowed in Parliament, it was subject to limitations imposed by the constitution.
"The statement made by honourable Malema suggests that the government, which is made up of members of this House, deliberately decided to massacre people. This does not only impute improper motive but also accused them of murder."
Modise then asked Malema to withdraw his remarks. Instead of withdrawing, Malema replied: "Chair, when police reduce crime you come here and say the ANC has reduced crime. When police kill people, you don't want us to come here and say the ANC government has killed people. That is inconsistent, Honourable Chair."
Modise again insisted Malema withdraw his statement. "I'm sorry, I won't do that," a defiant Malema said.
Modise said she had no alternative but to ask the fiery EFF leader to "leave the House". Malema and his fellow EFF MPs started filing out of the House, but not before disrupting proceedings.
Several EFF MPs started switching on their mics and shouting accusations at both Modise and those in ANC benches.
"The ANC murdered people" and "you were the premier when people were killed" reverberated through the house, resulting in Modise asking ushers to escort the EFF members out of the chamber.
ANC Member of Parliament, Mamoloko Kubayi has meanwhile called for an inquiry into the conduct of Malema and other EFF members.
"In terms of the rules and in term of the code of conduct, the members of EFF have really brought this house into disrepute. I would like to request that a proper process is put in place to investigate the conduct and therefore action be taken," says Kubayi.
Sisulu ordered to withdraw Maimane remarks
Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu was also forced on Thursday to withdraw her remark to a joint sitting of Parliament calling DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane a native for hire.
Sisulu duly retracted the remark after Modise said there was nothing unparliamentary about the term native, but found that the context in which the minister used it was offensive.
"If you however put these words together in one sentence ... as the minister put it, it is offensive and may allude to the stereotype that natives are always for hire," Modise said.
After Maimane's maiden speech in Parliament in the debate on President Jacob Zuma's SONA, she said he had had his dream of becoming premier of Gauteng shattered since the ANC won that province.
In the offending remark, she then went on to suggest that he had now been hand-picked by DA leader Helen Zille to do her bidding "now that madam has found another hired native to play second fiddle".
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