Parliamentary parties agree to root out dastardly conduct
4 May 2016
The ongoing budget vote process in Parliament has been soiled by the deplorable erosion of the standard of multiparty debates in the House, with certain Members of Parliament deliberately engaging in downright offensive and aggressive conduct in blatant violation of basic rules of the House. Certain extended public committees (EPCs), where departments’ budget plans are under the parliamentary scrutiny, have been rendered almost ungovernable as presiding officers had to battle with some belligerent MPs exchanging insults and other unprintable epithets. This flagrant and deliberate undermining of the parliamentary decorum, civility and mutual respect that guide multiparty debates once again poses a serious threat to the dignity and respect of the institution.
EFF MPs have once again been at the forefront of stirring chaos in various budget vote sittings, hurling demeaning insults at MPs of other parties and treating the authority presiding officers with absolute contempt. During yesterday’s debate on the international relations and cooperation budget vote, EFF MP Nazier Paulse called DA MP Yusuf Cassim “Kafir” during an angry exchange between the two MPs. Since his reported conversion to Islam, ANC MP Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela has been subjected to a torrent of religious slurs from some EFF MPs. During a recent budget vote debate, EFF’s Hlengiwe Maxon referred to him as “a Mohammed”. MPs of Indian descent from various political parties have also been the subject of disparaging and insulting innuendos. Indian MPs taking the podium have repeatedly been called “Guptas” by EFF MPs. In addition to all these, EFF MPs have made it virtually impossible for presiding officers to manage the House proceedings.
Budget vote process is one of the most key functions of parliamentary oversight. The process affords MPs an opportunity to scrutinise departments’ budget allocations to ensure that they deliver quality and much-needed services to the people. Engaging in a conduct that sabotages and disrupts this process robs the public, particularly the poor, of a valuable opportunity to examine the plans regarding the use of public funds. It is a direct assault on the right of the poor to receive much-needed services and related information aimed at qualitatively improving their living conditions.
The multiparty chief whips forum, which is constituted of chief whips of various parliamentary parties, today discussed this distressing erosion of the standard of multiparty engagements in parliament and agreed that an urgent attention ought to be taken. EFF was not represented at the meeting.
The ANC will engage meaningfully in the process agreed amongst parties to root out this dastardly conduct from Parliament. The Nazier matter, in particular, has been reported to the Office of the Speaker on behalf of the chief whips forum for investigation and appropriate action.
Issued by Moloto Mothapo on behalf of Office of the Chief Whip, 4 May 2016
