Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters party has been called upon by the speaker of parliament to give reasons why the movement should not be suspended from the South African house of assembly because of its recent outbursts.
The threat of unprecedented action came after Mr Malema and his 24 EFF MP colleagues refused to stop chants in parliament calling on South African president Jacob Zuma to "pay back the money" they say he owes.
On two occasions since last Thursday, parliament has been brought to a standstill by the party's repeated calls for Mr Zuma to adhere to the public protector's findings, which state he improperly benefited from the 246 million rand (€17.5 million) spent on his rural Nkandla home.
One of public protector Thuli Madonsela’s recommendations states that the African National Congress leader must reimburse the taxpayer for the non-security upgrades, an amount that would run into millions of euro.
The EFF, which Mr Malema formed last year, and other opposition parties claim Mr Zuma is hiding behind parliamentary procedures to dodge Ms Madonsela’s recommendations. The South African president maintains he is adhering to the law in relation to the matter.
The local Sunday Times reported at the weekend that Ms Madonsela had sent a scathing letter to the ANC leader, saying he was second-guessing her recommendations that he should repay money.
In Mr Zuma’s submission to parliament on the matter earlier this month, he said he would leave it to South African police minister Nathi Nhleko to determine if he should repay any of the project’s costs.
The police were called the first time the EFF MPs disrupted parliament, but the EFF members refused to leave the building. Eventually the ANC MPs walked out in protest.
On Tuesday, parliamentary speaker Baleka Mbete said the disruption had been referred to the powers and privileges committee, which would make recommendations on possible punishment for those involved. Despite this threat the EFF proceeded to disrupt proceedings again, albeit to a lesser degree.
Earlier in the day South African defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told a news conference that South Africans were angered and disgusted by the scenes in one of its main democratic institutions.
“Whilst cognisant that parliament is independent, the [security] cluster cannot stand idle as our democracy is undermined in the full glare of the public and the world,” she said.
EFF national spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the movement was unapologetic, as it had broken no laws.
Yesterday’s parliamentary session was uninterrupted.
