Johannesburg - Parliament’s presiding officers have hit back at opposition parties, dismissing as “unfounded” accusations that they are protecting President Jacob Zuma - signalling deepening tensions in Parliament.
This comes after reports of the opposition’s unhappiness at National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete’s attempts to release a “sanitised” version of the latest Nkandla report by Police Minister Nathi Nhleko at the end of the month.
The presiding officers include Mbete, National Council of Provinces chairwoman Thandi Modise, and their deputies Lechesa Tsenoli and Raseriti Tau, respectively.
Their statement also follows a joint opposition party briefing on Thursday, where the parties expressed their concerns about the continued use of police in the National Assembly and Mbete’s perceived bias.
“The presiding officers have noted the comments made at a media briefing by some opposition parties in Parliament on March 19. Specifically, the presiding officers note the repeated, unfounded assertions where, as they manage the business of Parliament, they are often accused of either protecting the president or acting in a biased, partisan manner.
“In examining these issues, it is clear that they are without basis and are not supported by fact,” Parliament said in a statement.
They said the fifth Parliament had experienced “unprecedented events which have had the potential to impact negatively on the ability of Parliament to carry out its mandate”.
The presiding officers said the “unfortunate” events in recent months were “unique” to the fifth Parliament.
“Members of Parliament have freedom of speech subject to Parliament’s rules and orders. The rules of Parliament must be respected. Disruptions and disorder can only contribute to undermining Parliament’s constitutional functions.”
They said that at a meeting with opposition parties it was agreed that maintaining decorum in Parliament was the responsibility of all the parties.
“While parties are at liberty to pursue their own programmes, the temptation to involve the presiding officers in their political strategies should be avoided,” the statement said.
The DA said on Sunday that the party would not be part of any “secret process” to cover up Zuma’s “financial liability” for the upgrades to his private residence at Nkandla.
“We will not be co-opted, behind closed doors, into agreeing to a sanitised version,” its parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane said.
It was the DA’s “considered view” that Zuma must pay back at least R52.9 million. “The R246 million spent on President Zuma’s private residence is a public crime,” Maimane said.
EFF leader Julius Malema claimed opposition MPs risked being assassinated in Parliament and that the presiding officers had to be stopped from calling police into the National Assembly.
Political Bureau