{"id":11300,"date":"2021-05-29T17:06:07","date_gmt":"2021-05-29T17:06:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/south-africa\/?p=11300"},"modified":"2021-05-29T15:17:24","modified_gmt":"2021-05-29T15:17:24","slug":"mps-in-a-tiff-over-constitutional-amendments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/south-africa\/all-news\/mps-in-a-tiff-over-constitutional-amendments","title":{"rendered":"MPs in a tiff over constitutional amendments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press<\/a> – South-Africa<\/a>. <\/strong><\/span>Cape Town – National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise had her hands full this week when she did her best to calm down tensions among the members of the parliamentary whippery.<\/p>\n

The occasion was the meeting of the programming committee to receive updates on the House\u2019s programme, recess and constituency periods.<\/p>\n

It proved to be a test of her patience, calmness and restraint as she guided the meeting not to degenerate into unnecessary verbal brawl.<\/p>\n

This happened when an ordinary meeting suddenly turned into an eventful meeting during a showdown between EFF MPs and other political parties.<\/p>\n

The drama started after a presentation was made on the committee section.<\/p>\n

Chair of chairs Cedric Frolick raised an issue about an incident that took place last Friday during a meeting of the ad hoc committee on Section 25 committee over a legal opinion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were unfortunate comments that were made by an honourable member that the parliamentary legal services had somehow been infiltrated by certain forces. We can’t take these comments lightly, Honourable Speaker, because it will have far reaching consequences if it becomes a trend,\u201d Frolick said.<\/p>\n

He also said when MPs were unhappy with a legal opinion, members were within his right to say that they did not agree with it.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo say the Iegal services have been infiltrated is taking it too far and it must be substantiated,\u201d Frolick said without naming the person involved.<\/p>\n

EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu confirmed it was him that said the legal services unit was infiltrated and said he stood by his statements.<\/p>\n

Shivambu did not mince his words as he tore into the legal services for allegedly dissuading them from carrying their mandate on amending the constitution to allow expropriation of land without compensation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will write to the Speaker to illustrate just how the legal office has been involved in misconduct of infiltration and misguiding the committee. We are to lodge a complaint and substantiate it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not apologetic and we will never apologise because it is a correct observation,\u201d Shivambu said.<\/p>\n

Other parties were unanimous in describing the matter as very serious with the IFP even suggesting a commission of inquiry.<\/p>\n

The Freedom Front Plus wanted necessary action taken against Shivambu and the DA also wanted an investigation.<\/p>\n

NFP\u2019s Munzoor Shaik Emam put the blame squarely on the problem of MPs enjoying a certain level of indemnity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to deal with this matter at some stage,\u201d Shaik Emam said.<\/p>\n

DA chief whip Natasha Mazzone said the problem was that there was no comeback and accountability to members who cast aspersions, among other things.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ethics and privileges committee don\u2019t meet often enough. We can lodge complaints and file unhappiness with your office. We all know nothing will happen to the MPs,\u201d she said as she did not name names.<\/p>\n

EFF\u2019s Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi came to the defence of Shivambu when she charged that he has not killed anyone and has the right to opinion.<\/p>\n

“It must be clear that we are not to agree to that narrative as if he killed anyone. He is a member of that committee and is entitled to his opinion,\u201d Mkhaliphi said.<\/p>\n

It was at this point that Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli said the MPs ought to use appropriate language in committees and called on Shivambu to make a substantiated motion.<\/p>\n

ANC deputy chief whip Doris Dlakude also stepped in to express shock at the allegations made against the legal services and stated that Shivambu should have long written to Modise.<\/p>\n

Instead of backing down, Shivambu maintained his right to question people who don\u2019t give legal opinions that have integrity.<\/p>\n

In fact, he did not see the need to complain as \u201cthe committee has rejected with contempt what was proposed\u201d.<\/p>\n

When he was done speaking, Modise cautioned Shivambu to watch his language.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not on to say inputs of other members are nonsensical when they express their opinions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Modise noted that they have taken a lot of time of the meeting dealing with a matter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should be saying we expect Ntathe Floyd\u2019s letter to be with us. The letter has to substantiate the infiltration rather than wrongness of the legal opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Singh then asked if the committee would complete its work adequately by the May 31 deadline.<\/p>\n

Frolick said the committee was on track to report to the House and Shivambu\u2019s letter about legal services has no bearing on the work of the committee.<\/p>\n

But DA deputy chief whip Jacques Julius asked: \u201cCan Honourable Shivambu be given a deadline when to submit?\u201d<\/p>\n

In response Modise said \u201cthat we will attend to\u201d and later said a briefing would be made at the next meeting.<\/p>\n

EFF\u2019s Natasha Ntlangwini did not take kindly to this saying they would not be told by imaginary advocates when the letter should be sent.<\/p>\n

Before the DA thought of even responding, a quick thinking Modise addressed all those in attendance.<\/p>\n

Modise warned MPs to use proper language when addressing one another.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe language we use, members, must not define our disagreements. We must disagree on substance,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan we just desist in name calling and denigrading one another? It does not help the image of Parliament at all,\u201d Modise said before wrapping up the meeting.<\/p>\n

Political Bureau<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – South-Africa. Cape Town – National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise had her hands full this week when she did her best to calm down tensions among the members of the parliamentary whippery. The occasion was the meeting of the programming committee to receive updates on the House\u2019s programme, recess and constituency periods. It proved […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":11299,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,8,12],"tags":[274,315,275],"class_list":["post-11300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-homepage-english","category-policy","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-south-africa","tag-south-africa-2"],"yoast_head":"\nMPs in a tiff over constitutional amendments - South Africa<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Cape Town - National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise had her hands full this week when she did her best to calm down tens ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/south-africa\/all-news\/mps-in-a-tiff-over-constitutional-amendments\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"MPs in a tiff over constitutional amendments\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Cape Town - 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