Parliament – Economic Freedom Fighters MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi was led out of the National Assembly on Tuesday after calling the Democratic Alliance’s Dean Macpherson a “white boy” and repeated the remark when ordered to withdraw it.
Macpherson rose on a point of order during a vote on the budget review and recommendation report for the department of arts and culture to point out that Ndlozi was not voting from his own seat. He was sitting in the front row, usually filled by EFF leader Julius Malema and chief whip Floyd Shivambu.
Ndlozi rose and, pointing at Macpherson, declared: “I will not be monitored by a white boy.”
DA chief whip John Steenhuisen objected, and asked presiding officer Thoko Didiza to rule the remark out of order given the long-standing history of not allowing racial epithets in the chamber.
Didiza agreed and told Ndlozi to withdraw the remark.
Instead, he challenged her to name the person he had addressed and when she did not do so, said the remark should therefore be allowed as the rules did not bar generalisations.
“It was a generalisation, we will not be monitored by white boys,” he said, adding that nobody in the EFF will allow themselves to be told where to sit by white boys and by not allowing him to say it, Didiza was infringing on his right to freedom of speech.
She said since he felt strongly about the remark and did not want to withdraw it he should leave the house. Again, Ndlozi refused. At this, Didiza ordered the serjeant at arms to lead him out of the chamber.
African News Agency
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