White shirts called in after EFF member ignores Black Rod

28 August 2015 - 12:42 By Bianca Capazorio

Parliament's controversial white-shirted “bouncers” were called in to remove an MP for the first time since the new rules were passed allowing disruptive members to be removed. But the female Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP was not from the often chaotic National Assembly‚ where the new rules were said to have been introduced to deal with her firebrand party‚ but in the normally staid National Council of Provinces (NCOP).During a debate on the state of municipalities‚ EFF delegate for North West Tebogo Mokwele attempted to rise on a point of order‚ but was told to sit down by deputy NCOP chair Raseriti Tau of the African National Congress (ANC).Mokwele repeatedly stated: “I have a right to speak in this house”‚ and‚ after attempting several more times to rise on a point of order‚ Tau said: “I think you are becoming disruptive and I suspect that it is deliberate.”After asking her to sit down several times‚ Tau ordered Mokwele to leave the house and when she refused‚ he requested the assistance of the usher.Tau then suspended the house “until the member has left”.Mokwena remained sitting in her bench for several more minutes. She was laughing and waving to the guests in the gallery.When Tau reconvened the NCOP about 10 minutes later‚ Mokwele was still in her bench‚ and‚ after an attempt to have the sergeant-at-arms remove her‚ Tau called in the parliamentary protection services.Outside Parliament‚ Mokwele said the bouncers - “four ladies and two white men” - escorted her out.She said her hand and eye had been injured.“They were rough‚ rough‚ rough‚” she said and resolved to take the matter further.“I am going to the doctor and then I will see what I can do from there‚” she said.Parliament said in a statement that NCOP deputy chair Tau‚ after numerous requests for a member to leave the Chamber‚ had to apply Rule 37 of the NCOP rules to authorise the removal of a member who defied his authority as a presiding officer. "Ms Tebogo Mokwele‚ a permanent delegate from North West and member of the EFF‚ disregarded the authority of the presiding officer and was ordered to withdraw from the chamber for the remainder of the day’s sitting.“She refused to leave the chamber and the Usher of the Black Rod was called to assist her to withdraw from the chamber. She still refused‚" said Parliament.– Parliamentary Bureau, RDM News Wire..

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