Johannesburg - Security cluster ministers have been slammed for what could be interpreted as undermining Parliament and blurring the line between the executive and the legislature as they announced plans to prevent further disruptions by Economic Freedom Fighters MPs.
This was in the aftermath of the abandoned presidential question session of President Jacob Zuma last week, during which EFF MPs refused to leave the House after being ordered to do so by Speaker Baleka Mbete.
Various analysts have warned that the ministers’ actions, during which Minister of Police Nkosinathi Nhleko announced that measures would be put in place to deal with a similar situation in the future, had been an overreaction and sent out the wrong message.
Political analyst Tinyiko Maluleke said elevating the matter to a security issue was a sign of desperation and created an impression that the ruling party wanted to stifle what was supposed to be “robust engagements” in Parliament.
Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Ngcakula, who chairs the security cluster, went so far as to say that the EFF was a threat to national security.
“You cannot solve a political issue by security means. The debates in Parliament ought to be robust. If there is a threat of violence in the house, then you can expect some level of security measures to be considered.
“However, we have not had that situation in this case. You simply had a robust debate and howling. I don’t think those MPs intended to physically attack the president. It does not send out a good message.”
Constitutional law expert Professor Shadrack Gutto also warned that for government ministers who were ANC MPs to wear their government hats and threaten to act against the opposition “smells like an attempt to create a security state”.
“It amounts to a misinterpretation of their powers, because this is a matter before Parliament, and to a large extent it exposes the various contradictions that exist in the Parliament for the ruling party.
“The Speaker herself is a senior member of the ruling party, and her role in this matter will always be looked at with scrutiny, especially on such a constitutionally important matter where the president is responding inaccurately to questions.
“They are mixing up different state arms as they struggle to contain what is happening.”
Gutto said the ministers’ actions did not bode well for Mbete, who appeared to have lost control of the house and seemed “unprepared”.
“Surely if she believed there was a need for the strengthening of security, she would be able to articulate that. But they have gone and done that for her. It doesn’t make her look good at all,” he said.
But political analyst Professor Steven Friedman disagreed that the ministers had overstepped the mark, saying they had actually done nothing. “Well, the fact of the matter is that they have actually done nothing so far. They have expressed what their views are and their position on the issue, but they have not acted. If they had started getting everybody wearing a beret arrested, or prevented EFF MPs from getting into Parliament, then we could say they were blurring the line, but that has not happened,” he said.
Mapisa-Ngcakula this week defended the ministers’ decision, saying people may not improperly interfere with or impede the exercise of Parliament.
“We recognise the independence of Parliament, but we cannot stand by while democracy is being undermined,” said Mapisa-Ngcakula.
As EFF MPs face possible suspension from the legislature, questions have been raised about how the ANC has dealt with the seemingly aggressive political approach of the EFF.
This week saw Luthuli House coming out strongly against the EFF and Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, prompting suggestions that the ANC was struggling to deal with the offensive from its breakaway party.
“This is really a vicious cycle that is happening here, and it shows the ANC has always had a problem dealing with the opposition when it comes from within their own ranks,” said Friedman.
Another political analyst, Ralph Mathekga, said the ANC had to do some serious thinking around how it dealt with the EFF, particularly because it was dominating the discourse and using effective catchphrases to maintain its momentum.
Meanwhile, EFF leader Julius Malema this week demanded that Mbete withdraw her intention to suspend him and other EFF members for their conduct during the presidential question session.
Mbete wrote to Malema and the other MPs notifying them of her intention to suspend them.
In a response to Mbete, Malema demanded that Mbete withdraw her intention to suspend him, failing which he would approach another forum for “an appropriate relief”.
Sunday Independent