EFF vs Gordhan: Hefty Fines and Suspension Recommended for Some MPs
- Two out of the 16 EFF MPs who disrupted Pravin Gordhan's 2019 Budget Vote may face suspension
- The other 14 EFF MPs could possibly face hefty fines that are equivalent to their month's salary
- The recommendations of the penalties were made to the National Assembly by Parliament's Powers and Privileges Committee
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The 16 EFF MPs who disrupted Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan's budget speech vote in 2019 will be facing some sort of disciplinary action. Two of the EFF who stormed the podium may be suspended without pay for no longer 30 days.
The 14 other EFF MPs should be receiving a fine of no more than the equivalent of a month's salary. Parliament's Powers and Privileges Committee made the announcement of the recommendations on Wednesday, 31 March.
The members had previously been found guilty of contempt of court while the Committee met to consider the appropriate penalties surrounding the 2019 incident.
Source: Getty Images
According to TimesLIVE, not one of the 16 EFF MPs attended their three-day disciplinary hearing. The Committee recommended that Nthako Matiase and Primrose Sonti face a suspension without pay for no more than 30 days. The recommendation was made to the National Assembly.
The Committee also noted EFF MP Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi's objection to the submissions of penalties and its recommendations.
A report by News24 stated that Matiase was found guilty of seven charges while Sonti was found guilty of five charges. The report continued by saying that Advocate Ncumisa Mayosi reiterated the severity of the charges against the EFF MPs.
Previously, Briefly.co.za reported that the 16 EFF MPs were found guilty of disturbing Gordhan's speech. A hearing last year about the incident proved that there was profuse evidence that the Red Berets members had broken both the Powers and Privileges Act and Parliamentary rules.
The EFF MPs now have the opportunity to make presentations to the Committee before a sanction can be imposed. A report by News24 stated that a communique would be sent to the MPs found guilty so representations can be made. EWN reported that the Committee found the MPs guilty on Thursday afternoon and the motion was objected to by Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.
The EFF members did not take part in the hearing; claiming that the majority of ANC members on the Committee would result in an unfair outcome.
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Source: Briefly News
