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The Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Max Sisulu, and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Mr Mninwa Mahlangu, today ordered a Congress of the People Member of a Parliamentary delegation to India to go back home.

The order follows an incident aboard a South African Airways flight yesterday which saw Mr Dirk Benjamin Feldman being briefly detained by the Indian security upon arrival at the Mumbai airport.

Mr Feldman was subsequently released and joined the rest of the delegation and proceeded to Delhi.

The Presiding Officers who joined the delegation today received a report about the incident and after speaking to Mr Feldman, who did not deny the allegations against him, deemed it both necessary and appropriate to send him home.

The decision is a precautionary move to ensure that Parliament's mission in India is not jeopardised. The Presiding Officers also view the allegations against Mr Feldman in serious light. A formal report has been requested from SAA and the other members of the delegation who witnessed the incident. The matter was also reported to Mr Feldman's party.

Parliament will take a decision on the future course of action as soon as the official reports are received. The delegation's programme has not been disrupted by the unfortunate incident.