The fifth Parliament has not yet been constituted but there is already quibbling over how Ministers in Parliament (MPs) should dress. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF),digs in its heels on its red overalls and red berets for its MPs. The EFF says some of its female representatives will even descend on parliament for their swearing in as MPs next week wearing domestic worker uniforms. The red tide this has become the trade mark of Julius Malemas EFF. The worker overalls, were worn throughout their campaign, and even to the IEC results centre. The EFF wants to bring that same red wave to Parliament. EFF spokesperson, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, says that their dress code is to simply address people out of the ordinary. Parliament says while there are no hard and fast rules about dress code for MPs in the chambers and committees, there is a need to observe the decorum of the institution. This decorum requires that no party insignia should be displayed in the chambers by MPs. The EFF has conceded, it will not be wearing party insignia to Parliament, but it refuses to conform to the conventional Western style dress code of suit and tie Parliamentary spokesperson Luzuko Jacobs says that parliament runs on the basis of rules and set standards of procedure processes which is informed by all sorts of things like the dress code for example, it is to ensure that MPs uphold the dignity and decorum of parliament. “Remember parliament is not just the building it’s also the members,” he says. The EFF has conceded, it will not be wearing party insignia to Parliament, but it refuses to conform to the conventional Western style dress code of suit and tie. This has drawn mixed reaction from the public. Jacobs says parliaments rules on dress code allows for MPs to wear according to their own personal taste. Perhaps, Madibas own dress style was testimony to this.
Posted on: Wed, 14 May 2014 07:01:52 +0000