Thursday, 20 April 2017 - The Speaker of the National Assembly has referred the matter relating to the alleged breach of the rules of the House by the Chief Whip of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Mr Floyd Shivambu, to the newly established Disciplinary Committee. The matter pertains to the conduct of Mr Shivambu during one of the plenary sittings last year. He refused to comply with the directives of the presiding officer during the sitting.
The Disciplinary Committee was established in terms of Rule 216 of the Assembly. It consists of the Deputy Speaker, the senior whip from each party in the National Assembly (nominated by the party) and any other Assembly member or members designated by the Speaker. The Committee is chaired and convened by the Deputy Speaker. If the Deputy Speaker is not available, a member of the committee designated by the Speaker performs the functions of the Deputy Speaker as chairperson of the committee.
The disciplinary committee has the functions and powers to investigate alleged misconduct (violation of the Assembly rules) and to report to the Speaker. The committee may not investigate a charge against an MP relating to contempt of Parliament in terms of the Powers and Privileges Act, or a breach of the Code of Conduct contained in the Schedule to the Joined Rules.
As it is standard practice, the referral was published in the ATC, a parliamentary paper.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
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