The African National Congress (ANC) Veterans League on Monday called on the party’s secretary general Ace Magashule to publicly denounce the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MPs’ attack on Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and assure him of the unqualified support of the movement.

EFF MPs tried to intimidate Gordhan during his departmental budget speech in Parliament on Thursday, by encroaching on his speech podium, saying he should not be allowed to deliver his speech following findings against him by public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.

“The SG should urgently direct the ANC Parliamentary Caucus to invoke Parliament’s most stringent rules of sanction against the EFF for this violation,” said the ANC Veterans League in a statement.

The league said it was shocked and dismayed at what it said was a vulgar display of thuggery by EFF members and condemned the same members’ behaviours.

“While the country has become used to EFF rowdiness in the chambers of Parliament over the years, the crude attempt at intimidating a Cabinet Minister in Parliament marks a step-change in the EFF’s long-standing war on constitutional democracy. The EFF now stands thoroughly exposed as a party that has embraced far right wing principles and methods to attack the democratic doctrines that masses of our people fought and died for,” said the Veterans League.

Contravention of the Rules

National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise has also expressed disappointment and a strong condemnation of last week’s disruption of the Department of Public Enterprises’ budget vote debate by the EFF MPs.

Modise explained that the inappropriate behaviour of the MPs was in clear contravention of the Rules of the House. She added that the unacceptable conduct may have violated the provisions of the Powers Privileges Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act.

“The Act prohibits members of Parliament from, amongst others, improperly interfering with the performance by a Member of his or her functions, creating or taking part in any disturbance within the precincts and failing or refusing to comply with an instruction by a duly authorised staff member,” she explained.

Meanwhile, the league concluded that the EFF’s “disruptive and despicable behaviour” should not be allowed to continue as it undermined the country’s values and was a threat to constitutional democracy.