SPEAKER'S DECISION ON EFF MPs

2 September 2014

The Office of the ANC Chief Whip notes and accepts the decision of the Speaker of the National Assembly not to suspend EFF Members of Parliament pending the process of the Powers and Privileges Committee, which is currently looking into their disruptive conduct.

The decision of the Speaker is firmly in line with the process provided for in the schedule of the Rules of the Assembly and the law. The process provides that the Speaker may seek reasons from transgressors why they should not be suspended while the committee deals with their case. Upon receipt of the reasons motivating why they should not be suspended, the Speaker accordingly takes a decision whether or not to recommend to the House to suspend.

The Speaker has thus duly considered the responses of individual EFF MPs and subsequently took a decision not to ask the House to immediately suspend them as provided for in the rules and the law.

The Speaker's decision and her strict adherence to the letter and spirit of the rules and the law speak volumes about the fairness and justness with which Parliament is dealing with the matter.

The Powers and Privileges Committee will continue with the process and table its recommendation to the House upon concluding its work.

Statement issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, September 2 2014

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