By Mike Cohen
Nov. 28 (Bloomberg)
South Africa’s Parliament suspended 12 lawmakers during the final sitting of the year for heckling President Jacob Zuma during a question-and-answer session three months ago.
The members of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters, including their leader Julius Malema, were reprimanded yesterday for chanting “pay back the money” at Zuma during an August session, forcing proceedings to adjourn. They were referring to a report by the nation’s graft ombudsman that Zuma unjustly benefited from a state-funded 215-million-rand ($19.6-million) upgrade of his personal residence. Zuma has denied any wrongdoing.
South Africa’s Parliament has been hamstrung by arguing between the ruling African National Congress and opposition parties, with the EFF one of the most vocal in challenging cabinet ministers and the Speaker on policy and procedures. Zuma hasn’t returned to the National Assembly since the incident, prompting accusations from opposition lawmakers that he’s failing to account to the legislature.
The charges against the EFF members, including disrupting Parliament and undermining the authority of the Speaker, “were considered serious and warranted sanctions of a serious nature,” Lemias Mashile, an ANC lawmaker who chaired a panel that investigated the lawmakers’ conduct, told the legislature yesterday. “We want them to mend their behavior moving forward.”
No Pay
The National Assembly voted to suspend Malema, a former leader of the ANC’s youth wing, and five other EFF legislators for 30 days without pay. Six more of the party’s lawmakers were suspended for 14 days without pay, and eight others were fined 14 days’ salary and ordered to apologize.
“South Africa can see that we are the victims of a political party that is very vindictive and uses parliamentary processes to settle political differences,” Malema said during debate on the sanctions. “We know you will do everything in your power to defend one individual in the name of Mr. President Zuma. You are creating a dictator and that dictator will one day turn against some of you.”
Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli battled to maintain order during the debate as EFF members repeatedly made interjections and raised objections.
The EFF has said it plans to challenge the suspension of its legislators in court.
Malema formed the EFF after being evicted from the ruling party for criticizing Zuma and sowing disunity. The EFF won 6.4 percent of the vote in May elections, giving it 25 seats in the 400-seat legislature. It has called for the nationalization of mines, banks and land.
Riot Police
Efforts by EFF members, who wear red miners’ overalls and maids’ uniforms to Parliament, to hold Zuma to account have caused chaos in the legislature on several other occasions. Hostilities peaked on Nov. 13 when riot police were called into the legislature to eject an EFF member who called Zuma a “thief” and refused to withdraw her remark. Several opposition lawmakers were assaulted when they intervened.
Ten other opposition parties objected to the action taken against the EFF because proper procedures weren’t followed.
“Every attempt was made by the ANC to protect the president and the Speaker from investigation or responsibility for what happened,” Annelie Lotriet, a lawmaker for the main opposition Democratic Alliance, told the legislature. “The context of the events, the contributing factors, the actions of the different role players were totally ignored. The findings and penalties proposed were indeed done on a basis void of any context.” – BLOOMBERG
