Cyril House rules, OK

Sanity finally prevailed in parliament yesterday after Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as leader of government business, defused the ongoing chaos among MPs.

As a result, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema and 19 of his MPs are off the hook and no longer face suspensions of up to 30 days without pay as recommended by the powers and privileges committee.

Ramaphosa said after the meeting that the leaders and representatives of 12 parties in parliament had resolved to put all matters related to disruptions in the House on Thursday in abeyance while a political solution was being sought.

Parliament was plunged into unprecedented mayhem when members of the public order policing unit stormed the National Assembly to eject EFF MP Reneiloe Mashabela forcefully after she had refused to withdraw remarks that President Jacob Zuma was a thief and a criminal.

Malema and his MPs had earlier been charged with misconduct and contempt for chanting "Pay back the money" in August after they became unhappy with Zuma's reply to questions on Nkandla.

The powers and privileges committee last week recommended they be suspended after finding them guilty.

Ramaphosa said the meeting had decided to establish a sub-committee to lead a political process to deal with Thursday night's chaos.

The sub-committee will be led by Ramaphosa, with DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane and ANC chief whip Stone Sizani as his deputies. Speaker Baleka Mbete and House chairman responsible for committees Cedric Frolick will also serve on it.

In the meeting, opposition parties complained about Mbete, saying she was not impartial.

"The current processes with respect to earlier disruptions in the House will be held in abeyance while this committee does its work," said Ramaphosa.

Asked if this meant the recommendation to suspend Malema and his MPs was on hold, he said: "Yes, because we're going to find political solutions as a collective of political leaders."

The powers and privileges committee's report was scheduled to be debated yesterday but it was taken off the agenda at the 11th hour.

EFF MP Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala said the decision was a victory for democracy.

"It's a victory for the nation, not for the EFF. If this is a multiparty democracy, it should be seen in action, not in theory," she said.

Sizani said the decision did not mean the EFF could get away "with anything".

"Nobody is going to be let loose, everybody is going to be bound by the collective decision," he said.

Maimane and the rest of the DA caucus arrived in parliament dressed in black to mourn "the death of democracy".

"We had strong discussions about the Speaker and we got him [Ramaphosa] to agree to say she'll obey all the rules."

Ramaphosa also had strong words for Mbete.

"The impartiality of the Speaker is precisely what we were talking about and the principle that we all reaffirmed is that the presiding officers in parliament must be impartial, they must apply all rules consistently without favour or any prejudice," he said.