ANC MP under fire for alleged assault

Dirks was asked to leave the National Assembly on Tuesday for raising his middle finger after he was alleged to have made threats against fellow ANC MP Thozama Mantashe. 

Speaker Baleka Mbete said she is in the process of determining what steps should be taken against Dirks, while the ANC has called for action to be taken should he be found guilty. 

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In a statement the office of ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu said: "The behavior of ANC MP Mervyn Dirks was despicable and not in keeping with the image of Parliament and the organisation he represents, the African National Congress."

Mthembu said he has also written to ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe to institute disciplinary action against Dirks. 

"We believe that these actions amount to gross misconduct and bring the organisation into disrepute," said Mthembu.