EFF MPs may be suspended

Cape Town - National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete is considering the suspension of Economic Freedom Fighters MPs who disrupted questions to President Jacob Zuma last Thursday.

"I have to inform the House that the matter is being referred to the Powers and Privileges Committee in terms of rule 194," Mbete told MPs at the start of proceedings in the House on Tuesday.

The committee would be tasked with probing the actions of EFF leader Julius Malema and his fellow MPs and whether this constituted contempt of the legislature.

A report with recommendations would be submitted to the Assembly as a "matter of urgency".
In addition, she would decide on whether EFF MPs should be suspended while the committee conducted its probe.

"...I'm considering the implementation of item 10 of the schedule of the rules which make provision for the suspension of members where the allegations against them are of a serious nature," said Mbete.

EFF members would be given an opportunity to provide Mbete with written reasons why they should not be suspended.