COPE, DA walkout deplorable - ANC

Walkout by COPE, DA

The decision by COPE, with the support of the Democratic Alliance, to walk out of today's sitting of the National Assembly in protest against the ruling on COPE MP Mluleki George is a deplorable conduct that has got no place within a distinguished institution such as Parliament.

It is typical of both COPE and the DA, who have anointed themselves as the paragons of morality and good behaviour, to throw toys out of the pram when they are found wanting on issues of proper conduct.

The decision by the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly to give George the matching orders was well considered and sound in terms of the rules of Parliament. Parliament cannot be turned into a circus where rowdy Members of Parliament can impugn on the integrity of the President and hurl insults at fellow MPs just because they disagree with them.

The allegation by Mluleki George that the President of the Republic is leading the nation into lawlessness is outrageous and cannot be taken lightly. When taking office the President and Ministers take an oath or solemn affirmation to obey, observe, uphold and maintain the Constitution and all other laws of the Republic. To suggest that the President or his Cabinet have deliberately acted in violation of this constitutional obligation is a serious charge that should be brought before the House through a substantive motion.

We are also astounded by the conduct of DA MP Dianne Kohller-Barnard, who hurled an F-word at the ANC MPs and the Deputy Speaker as she left the House during the walk out. There is absolutely no justification for such unruliness and vulgarity - no matter how much you disagree with your political opponents. The Office of the Chief Whip will ask Parliament to consider taking action against this particular MP to ensure that such conduct is not repeated again.

Statement issued by The Office of the ANC Chief Whip ANC Parliamentary Caucus, February 16 2010

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Point of order! "The decision by the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly to give George the matching orders was well considered and sound in terms of the rules of Parliament. " Yeah. Except it wasn't. by PeterH on February 16 2010, 18:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Distinguished Institution - Parliament ? I suppose in theory it could be, if it transformed itself and started fulfilling its function. After 60 odd years of subservience to the executive arm of government. by Carl Wille on February 16 2010, 19:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

I agree "To suggest that the President or his Cabinet have deliberately acted in violation of this constitutional obligation is a serious charge" let him defend himself in a court of law. by Realist on February 16 2010, 21:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Is Zuma encouraging lawlessness Let's see - He was tried for attempted rape with an HIV friend's daughter who fled overseas after the trial. He had several hundred accounts of corruption dismissed because of convenient positioning of friends in powerful . .more places. He sings about bringing him a machine gun in a country with 20,000 murders a year. He had a corrupt relationship with Shaik according to a judge. He apologises to the nation for having unprotected sex whilst telling the nation to condomise. He then does it again with another friend's daughter. A minister is given a Merc as a present by a contractor - Zuma advises him that it is OK to keep it, seemingly oblivious to the corrupt message being sent. So is Zuma encouraging lawlessness ? Certainly seems like that to me... . .less by Sad days on February 17 2010, 01:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zuma leading us into lawlessness? No he isn't - he has already done so, long ago. What integrity does the man have? He is a proven liar, adulterer, philanderer. He has consistently broken his promises to the electorate. Look at the state of the roads, the schools, the hospitals - then . .more look at the state of the bank balances of the ANC elite, the parastatals, the get-out-of-jail-free gang. Lawelessness? Integrity? Sick joke! . .less by Dr. Angelo Lambiris on February 17 2010, 07:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ZUMA AND PARTNERS ASK THEM IS THIS THE BETTER LIFE FOR ALL LET THE CARRY ON IT WONT LAST LONG THIS IS NOT ZIMBABWE by IVAN on February 17 2010, 08:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Good riddance If you cannot take the heat you should not have stepped into the kitchen. Good riddance to them. by Mogotsi on February 17 2010, 08:35 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Mogotsi What heat are taking about? by Jungle on February 17 2010, 09:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Matching Orders Is a "matching order" a parliamentary process of which I am unaware or is it the victim of "phonetic" spelling? on the part of the ANC. by Robin Africa on February 17 2010, 10:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

realist Since when does the president like courts or claim his day in court. He's conduct is indefensible and he will do any thing to put as much distance between himself and the nearest court. Let him defend himself in a court of law, well not till hell . .more freezes over twice. . .less by Jurist on February 17 2010, 10:54 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Cheek! "within a distinguished institution such as Parliament." Your'e kidding, right? Think how the ANC has abused power and demolished democracy in the last 10 years especially and you should blush that you have the gall to make that . .more statement. Some examples? Travelgate? Arms deal? And a hundred examples in between . .less by Alto on February 17 2010, 12:46 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Your the criminals wow a loot of talk no action. The ANC and its partners are the ones that are selfish and put themselves before the South African Public go home and get a life The Da and Cope would do your job a hundred times better for all South Africans sake. ANde put . .more the Public before themselves. Their the proper political parties your just a load of thugs driving the country into the ground. . .less by WTH on February 17 2010, 13:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

zuma is a window dresser viva cope viva,i think we must all opposition parties leave the anc to destroy this country. by tseke on February 17 2010, 18:49 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Top Stories/Cope/Da walkout/ zuma is a window dresser Tseke, do not destroy but SAVE this country! by tiptoe on February 19 2010, 14:48 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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