EFF calls on Mzwandile Masina to withdraw the vulgar threats he made to the opposition

26 May 2015

The Economic Freedom Fighters expressed its utter disgust at insults and threats made by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mzwandile Masina, to members of the opposition during the Budget Vote Number 1 debate on the Presidency. Mzwandile Masina, a member of the executive, after threatening the opposition with violence using vulgar words, refused to admit to this charge and retract his threats (see News24 report).

The misleading impression created by Masina was members of the opposition who accused him of making such crude threats were lying. The EFF is confident that members of the opposition would not lie about Mzwandile Masina’s threats and insults because he once insulted the then General Secretary of Cosatu, Zwelinzima Vavi, on national television, SABC 24 hour news channel, during the PYA press conference. The EFF is also aware that members of the opposition have no reason to falsely accuse Mzwandile Masina as there is nothing to gain out it. These are serious allegations which must be treated with urgency and decisiveness by Parliament.

The EFF believes that Mzwandile Masina must withdraw his offensive and threatening remarks in the National Assembly and apologise like any other member who has in the past been required to do so when found to have used unparliamentary language.
He represented the executive in the Budget Vote and must honourably withdraw because he does not do so, any other member of the executive may feel empowered to freely threaten the opposition, insult it and go unpunished. His actions are dishonourable, disreputable and violate the very democratic values that Parliament seeks to preserve and protect.

In any debate, no matter how robust a person wants to be, they must never degenerate into insults and threats as Mzwandile Masina did. The EFF will be writing to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, that this matter must be dealt with as soon as tomorrow and Mzwandile Masina must withdraw his remarks unconditionally and allow the House to move on with its business.

Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters, May 26 2015