No evidence found of GBV, sexual harassment during EFF's removal from parliament
An independent investigation appointed by National Assembly speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has found that there was no sexual harassment against parliamentary protection service officers when EFF MPs were forcibly removed from chambers on successive days after they disrupted President Cyril Ramaphosa's budget vote in June.
The complaint was laid by EFF chief whip, Floyd Shivambu against the Parliamentary Protection Services, who the party’s female MPs claim sexually harassed them.
Babalwa Mathulelwa, Noluvuyo Tafeni, and Naledi Chirwa all claimed the so-called bouncers sexually harassed them while they were forcibly removed.
Investigation lead advocate Elizabeth Baloyi-Mere found that the removal of the disruptive Members by PPS was characterised by violence on both sides.
"The report also found that the Speaker endeavoured to comply with each and every rule before she could call for Members to be removed from the Chamber. The investigation indicates that Members' attitude to the Rules, seemed to be a problem," said Parliament in a statement.
"Adv Baloyi-Mere recommended that the Speaker holds a meeting with all the Chief Whips to ensure that all public representatives comply with and abides by the Rules of Parliament. The report also recommended that during any given sitting of Parliament, there should be an adequate number of female PPS personnel present." the statement said.
Parliament says Mapisa-Nqakula has started implementing the recommendations of the report.
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