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South Africa's ruling ANC voices concern over disruption of Parliament

Xinhua, May 3, 2017 Adjust font size:

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Wednesday voiced concern over disruption of Parliament, urging the House to look at the possibility of criminally charging those responsible.

"As an institution which represents the people of this country, Parliament and its members must be protected at all times. In this vain, the institution must send a clear signal to all people of South Africa that parliament is not a playground for thugs and criminals," the party said.

This came after Parliament's public hearing on the transformation of South Africa's financial sector was plunged into chaos on Wednesday after members of Black First Land First (BLF) organization verbally attacked ANC MP and Chairwoman of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, Joan Fubbs, calling her a fascist and threatened to physically assault ANC MP and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Finance, Yunnis Carrim.

"We find this behaviour extremely unacceptable and view it with the utmost disdain. This kind of behaviour is a regrettable sign of the immature and scatterbrain nature of this organization," the Office of the ANC Chief Whip said.

The office condemned the "extreme disrespectful behaviour and deliberate disruption."

The ANC called the disruption "a clear attempt at undermining parliament as an institution and the ANC in Parliament as the majority party."

"We denounce this deliberate and misguided obstruction to the business of Parliament," said Nonceba Mhlauli, ANC spokesperson in Parliament.

Mhlauli said the ANC in Parliament will be writing to the Office of the Speaker to request an urgent investigation into the matter and ensure that the responsible individuals are blacklisted from participating in any future parliamentary activities.

Disruption of Parliament is not unrare in South Africa.

Parliament sessions have been disrupted several times before when opposition MPs prevented President Jacob Zuma from making speeches or answering questions. Endit