Parliament to probe sexual harassment claims by EFF

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.

 

Done By: Mitchum George