DA calls on National Assembly Rules Committee to review today's plenary

09 September 2015

The Presiding Officer's mismanagement of today's National Assembly plenary and misapplication of the rules not only led to this evening's chaos, but undoubtedly the sitting's inevitable collapse.

Honourable Malema's remarks and behaviour - although unparliamentary - did not constitute a life-endangering disruption in accordance with the Rules of the National Assembly, and did not necessarily warrant the Member's forced removal from the House.

If anything, the Presiding Officer on duty would have been obliged to use National Assembly Rule 52(b). However, the Presiding Officer escalated the rather tense exchange between Hon Malema and Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, by bungling the ruling and ejecting Hon Malema.

Rule 53, which the Presiding Officer used, is a provision reserved for gross disruptions to the National Assembly’s order of business. There were no items left for the House to deliberate and the Presiding Officer could have simply adjourned the sitting, immediately deescalating the matter.

The Democratic Alliance will lodge a formal complaint with the Rules Committee and request a review of today’s proceedings. Failing which, we will seek a legal review.

Parliament's Presiding Officers have a duty to protect its Members and apply the rules fairly. Today they failed to uphold that duty.

Statement issued by John Steenhuisen MP, DA Chief Whip, September 9 2015