Majority of parties agree disruption of house sittings cannot be allowed to continue
Most political parties have supported a recommendation that disruption of National Assembly (NA) sittings cannot be tolerated any further and must be dealt with decisively.
The matter was discussed at length at a meeting of the NA Rules Committee this morning, which considered draft rules and standard operating procedures presented by the Subcommittee on the Review of NA Rules.
The Constitution allows the NA to determine its own internal arrangements, proceedings and procedures and to make rules and orders concerning its business.
All political parties at the meeting, with the exception of the Economic Freedom Fighters, agreed to the proposals made.
The NA Rules Committee has now affirmed the draft rules and standard operating procedures and referred them back to the Subcommittee to address and finalise technical issues.
The draft rules prescribe that Parliament Protection Officers employed to remove Members who disrupt sittings should not be armed when entering the Chamber. The proposal also seeks to strengthen the rules which deal with disruptive conduct in the House, including disobeying the rulings of Presiding Officers.
Representatives from a number of different political parties emphasised that the intention was not to remove Members for anything they said during a sitting. Members could, however, be removed for behaviour which prevented other Members from carrying out their responsibilities.
The Subcommittee on the Review of NA Rules will report back to the Rules Committee early in the next Parliamentary quarter – which starts on 21 July.
The Subcommittee has also completed work on a review of the 15 chapters of the NA Rules and a final report on this will also be made to the NA Rules Committee in due course.
The process of reviewing the rules started in the fourth democratic Parliament but could not be finalised before that Parliament’s term ended.
Members will embark on a constituency period from 29 June to 20 July.
