ANC welcomes court decision against EFF in Parliament
by Staff Writer
2016-05-17 11:33:18.0
THE ANC in Parliament on Tuesday appeared pleased that the 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 (Tuesday’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.
President Jacob Zuma will be in the House on Tuesday afternoon to provide 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 recognise the office of the president.
"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 would 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.
TMG Digital
Picture: REUTERS/SIPHIWE SIBEKO
THE ANC in Parliament on Tuesday appeared pleased that the 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 (Tuesday’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.
President Jacob Zuma will be in the House on Tuesday afternoon to provide 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 recognise the office of the president.
"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 would 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.
TMG Digital
