Babalo Ndenze
Political Bureau
THE threat to suspend 20 EFF MPs from Parliament without pay has been withdrawn by Speaker Baleka Mbete, but only for now.
It will now be up to the powers and privileges committee to decide on what sanctions should be meted out to the EFF members.
The committee met for the second time yesterday to formulate charges against the EFF members.
During the meeting, EFF members and MPs from other opposition parties took exception to what they saw as bias because the ANC and Mbete has already made up their minds on what should happen to the EFF.
Confusion also reigned over the confidentiality of the meeting after the media was eventually allowed to be present at the first discussion. The meeting was initially closed by Parliament.
Members also couldn’t agree with who should be the “initiator” in the case after four names were suggested which included the ANC’s Mathole Motshekga and Bongani Bongo as well as the DA’s Glynnis Breytenbach.
An initiator plays the role of a prosecutor.
Committee chairman Lemias Mashile told the meeting that lawyers from both sides agreed not to continue with the suspension.
Advocate Zuraya Adhikarie from Parliament’s legal unit said the committee would now have to look at what the charges are with respect to individual members.
“This is because it may well be that the same charge that one member is charged with is duplicated and then you’re going to have a conflict,” said Adhikarie.
EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu voiced his party’s dissatisfaction, saying they were being subjected to the wrong process.
UDM MP Mncedisi Filtane said one had to ask if it would be “honourable” for members of the ANC to deliberate.
The IFP’s Albert Mncwago said had the suspensions not been withdrawn it would have presented the committee with a “major challenge” going forward.
The powers and privileges committee operates behind close doors because it deals with disciplinary matters affecting MPs.