EFF MP calls van Rooyen 'useless' - EFF withdraws 'the words of Gwede Mantashe' after reprimand

07 September 2016 - 20:14 By Neo Goba

Trouble erupted again in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon when the Economic Freedom Fighters' Marshall Dlamini and Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli exchanged words during a debate after Dlamini declined to withdraw a statement. Dlamini had referred to Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Des van Rooyen as a "useless minister". "You know minister what is clear now is that the municipalities are mismanaged especially under the ANC government… especially under this current useless minister called Mister Des‚" said Dlamini.Tsenoli then interjected and said: "Hounorable member‚ you can’t call a minister useless‚ that is not appropriate. When you are called that you are going to object so don’t call anybody that… please."Dlamini replied with a grin: "No but Gwede Mantashe (ANC secretary general) said he is useless‚ it's not me… No but Gwede Mantashe said so I'm just repeating what he said… he said Mr Des can't be taken serious."When Dlamini was asked to withdraw his statement‚ EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu stood up and weighed in on the debate even before his point of order was recognised."I'm rising on a point of order… the point of order is that the member has got the right to ask which statement are you asking (him) to withdraw. He still doesn't understand what to withdraw because he said Des is useless because Gwede Mantashe said it‚" said Shivambu.Dlamini and Shivambu said they were both "withdrawing the words of Gwede Mantashe".Mantashe made these comments at party's National Working Committee media briefing at Luthuli House last week on Tuesday. This was after Van Rooyen accused Gordhan of using the media to seek sympathy. Van Rooyen is the former finance minister who was sacked four days into his job and replaced by Gordhan...

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