Parliament - The Economic Freedom Fighters risked parliamentary sanction after their unruly walkout from a joint sitting of the legislature, National Council of Provinces chairwoman Thandi Modise warned on Friday.
Without mentioning names, Modise said one of the militant party's MPs behaved improperly on Thursday night when they left the National Assembly chamber in solidarity with EFF leader Julius Malema, who was ordered out for refusing to withdraw a statement.
“While leaving, disruptive and unacceptable behaviour was demonstrated by a member of those honourable members,” Modise said after President Jacob Zuma had responded to the debate on his state-of-the-nation address.
She added: “I will not go into details except to indicate that I have asked for the Hansard and audiovisual recordings of the incident.”
Modise said she would consult with Speaker Baleka Mbete but believed the matter could be referred to the parliamentary committee that dealt with members' privileges.
“This could very well be a matter that could reside under the mandate of the powers and privileges committee.”
The Hansard is the name of the record of what is said in Parliament.
On Thursday night, Modise ordered Malema to withdraw his statement in his maiden parliamentary speech that “the ANC massacred the people in Marikana”.
Malema refused, saying the ANC readily took credit when crime rates went down, and should therefore shoulder the blame for the shooting of striking mineworkers at Marikana, near Rustenburg in the North West, in August 2012. - Sapa