The decision by COPE, with the support of the Democratic Alliance, to
walk out of today's sitting of the National Assembly in protest against the
ruling on COPE MP Mluleki George is a deplorable conduct that has got no
place within a distinguished institution such as Parliament.

It is typical
of both COPE and the DA, who have anointed themselves as the paragons of
morality and good behaviour, to throw toys out of the pram when they are
found wanting on issues of proper conduct.

The decision by the Deputy
Speaker of the National Assembly to give George the matching orders was well
considered and sound in terms of the rules of Parliament. Parliament cannot
be turned into a circus where rowdy Members of Parliament can impugn on the
integrity of the President and hurl insults at fellow MPs just because they
disagree with them.

The allegation by Mluleki George that the President of
the Republic is leading the nation into lawlessness is outrageous and cannot
be taken lightly. When taking office the President and Ministers take an
oath or solemn affirmation to obey, observe, uphold and maintain the
Constitution and all other laws of the Republic. To suggest that the
President or his Cabinet have deliberately acted in violation of this
constitutional obligation is a serious charge that should be brought before
the House through a substantive motion.

We are also astounded by the
conduct of DA MP Dianne Kohller-Barnard, who hurled an F-word at the ANC MPs
and the Deputy Speaker as she left the House during the walk out. There is
absolutely no justification for such unruliness and vulgarity - no matter
how much you disagree with your political opponents. The Office of the Chief
Whip will ask Parliament to consider taking action against this particular
MP to ensure that such conduct is not repeated again.