Parliament to probe SONA chaos
Parliament says eight officials of the Parliamentary Protection Services (PPS) who were injured while escorting some Members of Parliament out of the chamber during President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address (SONA), are receiving medical and counselling services.
According to Parliament, the officials were beaten with plastics hats, bricks and punched.
This while the Presiding Officers, Speaker Baleka Mbete of the National Assembly and Chairperson Thandi Modise of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), directed the Secretary to Parliament to conduct an investigation.
The Secretary to Parliament, Gengezi Mgidlana, has established an inter-divisional committee to investigate various allegations surrounding the incidents that took place on the night of SONA on Thursday.
Parliament spokesperson Manelisi Wolela says Mgidlana is expected to table a report early next week to the Presiding Officers for a decision on the course of action Parliament will take.
"The allegations of brutality levelled at PPS officials are unfair, unfounded and baseless. Evidence shown on national television stations clearly indicates that these officials were brutally assaulted when they were merely doing their work of removing some Members of Parliament (MPs) as instructed by the Presiding Officers. They have done their job successfully, inspite of the difficult conditions created by some of the MPs. Equally so, allegations that the PPS has any weaponry such as cable ties, injections or any other equipment are false," says Wolela.
The SONA will be debated on 14-15 February, with the Presidentâ's reply to the debate scheduled for 16 February 2017.