EFF To Challenge Parliament Suspension In Con Court The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has filed papers at the Constitutional Court to challenge the suspension of its Members of Parliament (MP) by Parliament’s powers and privileges committee, said party spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi in a statement on Friday. “This is following the refusal by the Western Cape High Court to hear the matter due to Judge [John] Hlope’s prejudicial dismissal of the case before it was even heard,” said Ndlozi. Hlope was criticised by the EFF on Monday for his refusal to allocate a date for the party’s application for an interdict against a contempt of Parliament finding involving 20 MPs. “The EFF will not back down until he [Judge Hlophe] is removed completely from the bench since he is there to undermine the rule of law,” said Ndlozi. “The EFF case brought before the Constitutional Court goes beyond the question of the suspension of EFF MPS. It also raises two fundamental issues in our democracy. Firstly we have asked the court to pronounce on the suitability of Baleka Mbete who is the National Chairperson of the ANC holding the position of Speaker of Parliament which requires impartiality. “Secondly the Constitutional Court will be asked to pronounce once and for all on the status of remedial action prescribed by the Public Protector and that Zuma has no option but to pay back the money he stole from the South African public purse to build his private home, cattle kraals and swimming pools,” he added. Twenty EFF MPs, including the party’s leader Julius Malema, were suspended for between 14 days and a month without pay after the powers and privileges committee found them guilty of contempt of Parliament. On 21 August EFF MPs chanted ‘pay back the money’ at President Jacob Zuma when he responded to a question related to the R246 million spent on security upgrades to his private Nkandla home. The MPs then failed to leave the house after Speaker Baleka Mbete ordered them to do so.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 15:14:58 +0000
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