Sixteen Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters were on Wednesday suspended for five working days following their removal from the House during the budget vote of the Presidency.

Owing to their suspension, the Members may not enter the precincts of Parliament until the suspension expires on Wednesday. Other party members may participate in the parliamentary processes and business.

The removal of the Members followed their disregard for the authority of the Speaker and causing a disruption. Rule 51 provides that the Presiding Officer may order a Member to withdraw immediately from the Chamber if the Presiding Officer is of the opinion that the Member, inter alia, is disregarding the authority of the Chair. The Members wanted the President not to be allowed to address the National Assembly. The Speaker ruled that the programming structures had agreed to the scheduled business and that there was no basis either in law or in the Rules for disallowing the President from addressing the National Assembly. Despite the ruling, the EFF Members insisted on their position.

The Members were asked to leave the House to allow proceedings and the business of the day to continue, and they refused. The Speaker called the Serjeant-at-arms to remove them in terms of rule 53A (1). The Members continued to refuse to leave after the intervention by the Serjeant-at-arms. Parliamentary Protection Services were then called to assist in removing the Members in terms of Rule 53A (2).

Rule 53A (3) provides for the immediate and automatic suspension of members to be removed from the Chamber for five working days. The five days includes the day of the removal from the House.

Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services