Parliament - Parliament's powers and privileges committee on Friday recommended suspension without pay for most of the Economic Freedom Fighters MPs found guilty on contempt of Parliament.
EFF leader Julius Malema, chief whip Floyd Shivambu, Mpho Ramakatsa, Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala, Godrich Gardee, and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi were set to receive the harshest sanctions.
“The committee resolved that they be suspended without remuneration for 30 days,” said committee chairman Lemias Mashile.
The recommendations, which will be adopted in a formal report on Monday, will be submitted to the National Assembly for approval.
Malema was found guilty on four charges of contempt of Parliament.
Shivambu and Ramakatsa were convicted on seven charges each.
The second group of MPs, consisting of Elsabe Louw, Ngwanamakwetle Mashabela, Nthako Matiase, Hlengiwe Maxon, Magdalene Moonsamy, and Andile Mngxitama, who were found guilty on two charges each of contempt of Parliament, also face suspension without pay, but for a shorter period.
“The committee resolved to recommend that they be suspended for 14 days without remuneration,” said Mashile.
The rest of the 20 MPs, who were only found guilty of one charge each, could get off with lighter penalties.
“The committee resolved to recommend that these members should apologise to Parliament verbally in the manner determined by the House,” Mashile said.
The disciplinary process arose from the EFF's disruption of the National Assembly during President Jacob Zuma's question time on August 21.
They were apparently unhappy with Zuma's replies to questions about his private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, where R246 million of taxpayers' money had been spent on upgrades.
Ndlozi, the EFF spokesman, was not immediately available for comment.
Sapa