A report which is likely to result in the suspension of Economic Freedom Fighters MPs from Parliament will be up for debate in the National Assembly on Thursday.
This followed a meeting of the National Assembly programming committee on Wednesday in which all parties agreed the disciplinary process of the EFF MPs was "unprecedented" and the issue was of "national importance".
The report recommending the suspension of 12 EFF MPs, compiled by Parliament's Powers and Privileges Committee, was initially on the order paper for consideration only, meaning a debate would not have happened.
EFF and Democratic Alliance MPs made a strong push for a debate during the programming committee.
ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani eventually agreed.
"It's a matter of national importance. It must be debated," Sizani said.
However, Sizani wanted party whips to agree to suspend notices of motion and motions without notice, insisting that if these items were put on the order paper it would likely lead to a filibuster by EFF MPs.
The African Christian Democratic Party and the National Freedom Party agreed with Sizani.
"We must guard against reaching our homes at four o'clock in the morning," said NFP Chief Whip Nhlanhla Khubisa.
The committee finally agreed in principle that motions would be back on the order paper.
However, party whips would meet afterward to decide whether they would put a time limit on motions to prevent a filibuster.
EFF MP Godrich Gardee argued that there was nothing special about the report that would warrant a filibuster.
"Filibustering can also be done on any other days when there's nothing scary," said Gardee.
Laughter erupted when National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete intervened, asking: "Is there something scary tomorrow?"
"Yes, that item number one of the ANC," Gardee replied, referring to the report which could see him and his colleagues suspended from Parliament.
The party whips also agreed a snap debate on the Eskom crisis would also be included on the order paper, after parties agreed the recent power outages merited debate.
This would only happen after the Powers and Privileges Committee report is debated.
The report details the conviction of 20 EFF MPs on misconduct charges, and the recommended sanctions for their actions.
The committee recommended that Gardee, EFF leader Julius Malema, party Chief Whip Floyd Shivambu, Mpho Ramakatsa, Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala, and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi be suspended without pay for 30 days.
Another group of MPs, consisting of Elsabe Louw, Ngwanamakwetle Mashabela, Nthako Matiase, Hlengiwe Maxon, Magdalene Moonsamy, and Andile Mngxitama, who were found guilty on two charges each of contempt of Parliament, also face suspension for 14 days without remuneration.
It was recommended that the rest of the 20 MPs, who were found guilty of one charge each of contempt of Parliament, be ordered to submit a verbal apology to the House.
EFF disciplinary report to be debated in Parliament
A report which is likely to result in the suspension of Economic Freedom Fighters MPs from Parliament will be up for debate in the National Assembly on Thursday.
This followed a meeting of the National Assembly programming committee on Wednesday in which all parties agreed the disciplinary process of the EFF MPs was "unprecedented" and the issue was of "national importance".
The report recommending the suspension of 12 EFF MPs, compiled by Parliament's Powers and Privileges Committee, was initially on the order paper for consideration only, meaning a debate would not have happened.
EFF and Democratic Alliance MPs made a strong push for a debate during the programming committee.
ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani eventually agreed.
"It's a matter of national importance. It must be debated," Sizani said.
However, Sizani wanted party whips to agree to suspend notices of motion and motions without notice, insisting that if these items were put on the order paper it would likely lead to a filibuster by EFF MPs.
The African Christian Democratic Party and the National Freedom Party agreed with Sizani.
"We must guard against reaching our homes at four o'clock in the morning," said NFP Chief Whip Nhlanhla Khubisa.
The committee finally agreed in principle that motions would be back on the order paper.
However, party whips would meet afterward to decide whether they would put a time limit on motions to prevent a filibuster.
EFF MP Godrich Gardee argued that there was nothing special about the report that would warrant a filibuster.
"Filibustering can also be done on any other days when there's nothing scary," said Gardee.
Laughter erupted when National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete intervened, asking: "Is there something scary tomorrow?"
"Yes, that item number one of the ANC," Gardee replied, referring to the report which could see him and his colleagues suspended from Parliament.
The party whips also agreed a snap debate on the Eskom crisis would also be included on the order paper, after parties agreed the recent power outages merited debate.
This would only happen after the Powers and Privileges Committee report is debated.
The report details the conviction of 20 EFF MPs on misconduct charges, and the recommended sanctions for their actions.
The committee recommended that Gardee, EFF leader Julius Malema, party Chief Whip Floyd Shivambu, Mpho Ramakatsa, Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala, and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi be suspended without pay for 30 days.
Another group of MPs, consisting of Elsabe Louw, Ngwanamakwetle Mashabela, Nthako Matiase, Hlengiwe Maxon, Magdalene Moonsamy, and Andile Mngxitama, who were found guilty on two charges each of contempt of Parliament, also face suspension for 14 days without remuneration.
It was recommended that the rest of the 20 MPs, who were found guilty of one charge each of contempt of Parliament, be ordered to submit a verbal apology to the House.
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