The Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, said she acted within the law when she ordered members of the Security Services to assist in ejecting members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) from the chambers on February 12.

The Speaker, flanked by other presiding officers, said the events that unfolded before the President read his State of the Nation Address (SONA) speech were disturbing and that they tarnished the reputation of the country.

When members of the opposition party, the EFF, refused to leave the House after being asked to do so by the Speaker for a violation of Parliamentary rules, Mbete ordered members of the Security Services to move in and to root out disorder from the chambers.

“In terms of section 4 of the Powers and Privileges Act, members of the Security Services may enter and remain in Parliament for the purpose of performing any policing function, or performing any policing function in the precincts, only with the permission under the authority of the Speaker or the Chairperson.

“When there is immediate danger to the life or safety of any person or damage to any property, members of the Security Services may, without obtaining such permission, enter upon and take action in the precincts in so far as it is necessary to avert that danger.

“On 12 February, the Presiding Officers acted in terms of this section,” Mbete said.

The Speaker also said while the disruptions were not envisaged to take place, it was important to note that ahead of the President’s speech last week, members of the EFF had gone on record as saying that they would disrupt proceedings during the SONA speech.

She said presiding officers had also noted more public pronouncements by members of the EFF, where one member reportedly said he planned to beat up a member of the security personnel and another has threatened to bring a firearm into the chambers.

Previous threats have left presiding officers with no choice but to take them seriously, the Speaker said, adding that Secretary to Parliament had been asked to follow up on the threats.

Cell phone signal

Meanwhile, the Speaker told journalists that Parliament does not own any device used for the scrambling of the mobile network signal.

Some two hours ahead of the President’s speech, journalists and opposition party protested against the scrambling of the signal in the Chamber.

“We need to state categorically that Parliament does not own any device that scrambles communication of cellular phones. We have not ordered the use of such devices.

“Our view as Presiding Officers is that our democracy should not be placed in such a situation where in Parliament, the use of such devices is contemplated,” she said.

She said the Secretary to Parliament was looking into the issue.