Suspension has nothing to do with Juju's burglary

The real reason for the suspension of the head and deputy of the Parliamentary Protection Services is not the burglary of Julius Malema’s office but because the two had opposed the integration of police into parliament’s security system‚ according to the Economic Freedom Fighters.

Zelda Holtzman‚ and her deputy‚ Motlatsi Mokgatla‚ had argued that “existing parliamentary security is sufficient and that there is no need to hire more people‚ let alone the police‚” the EFF said in a statement on Friday.

On Thursday the ANC and the majority of opposition parties approved a new ruling that MPs who disobeyed the Speaker would be removed from the chamber.

They backed the move with the understanding that police were not to be used as part of parliament’s security team. This comes ahead of President Jacob Zuma’s next appearance in Parliament – on Thursday.

According to reports‚ the suspensions of Holtzman and Mokgatla are in place because alleged security breaches and other Parliamentary Protection Services matters are to be investigated and should be completed by the end of August.

The EFF maintains the suspensions are linked to the “new unconstitutional rule on the physical removal of MPs” that was in breach of Section 58 of the Constitution that accords privilege to “MPs to speak about anything without any fear of arrest or imprisonment”.