DA call on NCOP chairperson to retract decision

By Sasha Forbes
20 November 2008

The Democratic Alliance will be appealing the decision by the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Mr Mninwa Mahlangu to eject the DA within the NCOP Juanita Terblanche from the House yesterday afternoon for exclaiming “Ag siestog!” during the debate on the dissolution of the Scorpions.

Spokesperson for the DA Lindiwe Mazibuko says to say Ag, siestog!” is a perfectly acceptable expression of indignance, and is not in any way unparliamentarily, as Mr Mahlangu argued it was.

Mazibuko also said that “as a result of Mr Mahlangu decision yesterday, the DA also deprived of a vote on these very important pieces of legislation. We will be writing to the chairperson again to explain fully the meaning and the context of what Honourable Terblanche said ion the house and calling upon him to retract his decision.”