Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula says an internal investigation is underway to verify the claims of sexual harassment made by Economic Freedom Fighters MPs following last week’s drama.
EFF MPs were forcibly removed from chambers on 9 & 10
June, after they disrupted President Cyril Ramaphosa's budget vote.
The complaint was laid by EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu
against the Parliamentary Protection Services, who the party’s female MPs claim
sexually harassed them.
Babalwa Mathulelwa, Noluvuyo Tafeni, and Naledi Chirwa all
claim the so-called bouncers sexually harassed them while they were forcibly
removed.
This while two of the officers, Khunjulwa Sinono and Khaya
Honey Vanqa, laid a criminal complaint against the EFF for abuse, assault, and
intimidation.
‘’Ms Sinino, in particular, sustained an injury to her face
after being allegedly assaulted by a male EFF MP. She immediately received
medical attention, and both have since opened criminal cases with the Cape Town
police,’’ said Parliament Spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo.
In a statement, Mapisa-Nqakula labelled the allegations as
highly disturbing.
"The forceful removal of disruptive Members of
Parliament is not a decision that is taken lightly. It is taken as a last
resort after all other avenues have been explored to protect the rights of the
rest of the public representatives to fulfill their constitutional obligations
and that of the public, whose hopes and aspirations for better future rest with
Parliament, to have the institution perform its business."
On Friday, the EFF also opened a case of assault against
Mapisa-Nqakula.
.jpg)
Done By: Mitchum George
No comments:
Post a Comment