Africa(Commonwealth Union)_Nine months after disrupting the state of the nation address in South Africa, six Members of Parliament, including EFF leader Julius Malema, have been subjected to severe sanctions by Parliament. The sanctions, imposed by the Powers andPrivileges Committee, include the docking of a month’s salary and a directive to issue personal apologies in the House to the President, the Speaker, and the people of South Africa.
The committee’s finding of guilt against the MPs for violating the Powers, Privileges, andImmunities Act led to proposed sanctions by Adv Katz, the initiator. The suggested penalties included either a requirement for a personal apology or a ten-day suspension preventing theMPs from attending the state of the nation address (SONA) in February. These proposed sanctions indicate the severity of the violations and aim to enforce accountability for the MPs actions.
The six MPs facing sanctions are Julius Malema, Floyd Shivambu, Marshall Dlamini, SinawoTambo, Vuyani Pambo, and Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. The committee, chaired by Violet Siwela,opted for a suspension without remuneration for the month of February as a disciplinary measure. Additionally, each member was mandated to offer a personal apology in the House to the specified individuals and groups affected by their actions. This decision reflects a combination of financial consequences and public acknowledgment aimed at holding theMPs accountable for their violations.
The disruptive incident occurred on February 9, 2023, when the MPs rushed to the podium during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address. Their actions, prompted by corruption allegations against the President and public protests over power cuts, led to their removal by security services. The EFF, the country’s second-largest opposition group inParliament, had called for President Ramaphosa’s resignation at the time.
