ANC chief whip celebrates EFF’s ‘frivolous interdict’ being struck from roll

17 May 2016 - 12:10 By TMG Digital

The African National Congress (ANC) in Parliament on Tuesday appeared pleased that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) failed “to cajole the judiciary into being party to its unconstitutional and silly decision not to recognise the office of the president”. The office of the ruling party’s chief whip said it “welcomes the decision of the Western Cape High Court (on Monday) to strike off the roll the EFF case to interdict the speaker of the National Assembly from instructing the removal of EFF MPs at (Monday’s) sitting should such become necessary in terms of the rules”.Judge Ashley Binns-Ward struck off the application on the basis that it was not urgent‚ Parliamentary Communications Services said in a statement on Monday.Tuesday afternoon will see President Jacob Zuma in the house to give answers to “Questions for Oral Reply”.“There is no doubt that the EFF's urgent interdict was frivolous‚ as it essentially sought to ask the court to grant them the carte blanche right to disrupt (Tuesday) afternoon's sitting‚” the ANC chief whip’s office said in a statement.“Through this case‚ the EFF attempted to cajole the judiciary into being party to its unconstitutional and silly decision not to recognize the office of the president.“Indeed our judiciary ought to remain guarded at all times against attempts by some parties to exploit the courts in their attempts to erode democratic institutions.“We welcome the decision of the court as it once again affirms the right of Parliament to determine its own conventions‚ procedures and proceedings in terms of the Constitution without interference consistent with the doctrine of separation of powers.“In terms of the principle of rotation regarding oral questions to the president‚ the EFF is one of the parties not scheduled to partake in this afternoon's session.“Despite this‚ the EFF wants to disrupt the sitting and deny other parties and Parliament their constitutional function to hold the head of the executive to account.”The Congress of the People said in statement on Monday that it will continue its absence from the legislature as it “will not make light of Zuma breaking his oath of office”.It has refused to take part in parliamentary business since Zuma “was admonished by the Constitutional Court for transgressing the Constitution” over his actions on Nkandla. ..

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