Parliament starts probe into sexual harassment claims by EFF

Parliament says it has started its investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) against its "bouncers".

The claims were made after the EFF MPs were forcibly removed for disrupting President Cyril Ramaphosa while delivering his address during the Presidency's Budget Vote.

The EFF has since laid criminal charges against the officials.

The Parliament Protection Services officials also lodged a criminal complaint against the EFF Members.

Parliament has since appointed an independent investigator, Advocate Elizabeth Baloyi-Mere, to probe complaints of gender-based violence, sexual harassment, intimidation, and EFF MPs and the Parliamentary Protection Services officials.

In a statement, Parliament said Baloyi-Mere is expected to complete the investigation within 14 working days and later submit a written report within five working days to the Speaker.

"Adv. Baloyi-Mere's responsibility will be to assess the complaints and allegations made by the EFF members against the PPS officials, as well as complaints and claims made by the PPS officials against the EFF members, and then report to the Speaker on its findings and recommendations.

"Advocate Baloyi-Mere has over ten years of experience and has a general litigation practice with her preferred areas of practice, including constitutional, administrative, public procurement, customary, African and general commercial law."

 

PICTURED: 

Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula

Done By: Mitchum George