https://www.polity.org.za
Deepening Democracy through Access to Information
Home / News / All News RSS ← Back
Close

Email this article

separate emails by commas, maximum limit of 4 addresses

Sponsored by

Close

Embed Video

Parliament rules against calling Zuma a "thief and accused number 1"

Mmusi Maimane
Photo by Duane Daws
Mmusi Maimane

5th May 2016

By: News24Wire

SAVE THIS ARTICLE      EMAIL THIS ARTICLE

Font size: -+

Calling President Jacob Zuma a thief, "accused number 1" or even referring to him as an accused criminal infringed on his dignity, Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli has ruled.

This was after Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane referred to the president as a thief and a criminal in a speech in Parliament, prompting numerous points of order from the African National Congress (ANC).

Maimane was asked to withdraw the statement more than an hour after he called Zuma a thief, after the deputy speaker returned with a ruling.

Tsenoli said they could not refer to Zuma as an accused unless he had charges that were put to him.

"By using inflammatory remarks, we are not advancing [the] case for debate. Such remarks infringe on his dignity," he said.

He said calling Zuma a thief was completely unacceptable and called for Maimane to withdraw his remarks, which he did.

The DA then asked if it was acceptable to quote a judgment and said they would refer the matter to the rules committee.

Advertisement

EMAIL THIS ARTICLE      SAVE THIS ARTICLE

To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Comment Guidelines

About

Polity.org.za is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Engineering News
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa

Read more

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Polity.org.za is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options
Free daily email newsletter Register Now