Parliament EFF WATCH: Massive fight

[FILE] The National Assembly sitting was once again distrupted when a massive fight broke out between the EFF MPs and security officials. Photos: Screengrabs/Video/Twitter

Parliament to investigate EFF GBV allegations while Protection staff open cases against red berets

The EFF allege its members suffered gender-based violence in parliament last week, while two members of the Parliamentary Protection Services have opened cases against the party’s MPs.

Parliament EFF WATCH: Massive fight

[FILE] The National Assembly sitting was once again distrupted when a massive fight broke out between the EFF MPs and security officials. Photos: Screengrabs/Video/Twitter

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Chief Whip, Floyd Shivambu, called on the Speaker of the National Assembly to conduct an investigation into the alleged gender-based violence suffered by woman members of his party at the hands of some members of the Parliamentary Protection Services (PPS) on 9 and 10 June.

Members of the PPS, however, claim they were abused by EFF members during the removal process and at least two criminal cases have been opened with the Cape Town police.

EFF, PPS MAKE ALLEGATIONS AFTER PARLIAMENT RUCKUS

Parliament said the three EFF MPs allegedly violated during both sittings of the Presidency Budget Vote and Reply last week are Babalwa Mathulelwa, Noluvuyo Tafeni and Naledi Chirwa.

“The three are amongst EFF MPs who had to be removed from the Chamber for a highly disruptive behaviour which saw the debate on the Presidency Budget Vote delayed by over an hour and the subsequent Reply by the President the day after being temporarily suspended,” said Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo.

The EFF wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to step aside while the Phahla Phahla matter is under investigation by the authorities.

At a press conference last week, the leader of South Africa’s third-largest political party, Julius Malema, released footage of the alleged burglary in which $4 million was stolen from the president’s property and vowed that the EFF would not allow Ramaphosa to fulfil his presidential duties until the matter has been resolved.

Members of the EFF were violently ejected from the Good Hope Chamber on both 9 and 10 June.

EFF chairperson Veronica Mente told Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula that members of the PPS had allegedly manhandled and touched the private part of members during the removal and said that a case would be opened.

Meanwhile, at least two PPS staffers – Miss Khunjulwa Sinono and Mr Khaya Honey Vanqa – say they were abused, assaulted and intimidated by EFF MPs during the removal process.

“Ms Sinino, in particular, sustained an injury to her face after being allegedly assaulted by a male EFF MP. She immediately received medical attention, and both have since opened criminal cases with the Cape Town police,” said Mothapo.

Mapisa-Nqakula said she was highly disturbed by the allegations and added that no stone would be left unturned “in establishing all the factual circumstances around them.”

The Speaker committed to launching an internal investigation into all the allegations.