Parliament said eight officials of the Parliamentary Protection Services who were injured in clashes with EFF MP’s were receiving medical and counselling services.
Parliamentary Speaker, Baleka Mbete, said in a statement Friday that “the officials were beaten with plastics hats, bricks and punched.”
Mbete said she, and the Chairperson of the National Council of Province, Thandi Modise, directed the Secretary to Parliament, Gengezi Mgidlana, to conduct an investigation.
She said Mgidlana had established “an inter-divisional committee to investigate various allegations surrounding the incidents that took place on the night of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament, 9 February.”
The Speaker said the Mgidlana was expected to table a report early next week to the Presiding Officers for a decision on the course of action Parliament will take.
Mbete said the allegations of brutality levelled at PPS officials were unfair, unfounded and baseless.
“Evidence ( http://tinyurl.com/jrplvj9 ) 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,” she said.
“They have done their job successfully, inspite of the difficult conditions created by some of the MPs. Equally so, allegations that the PPS had any weaponry such as cable ties, injections or any other equipment were false,” Mbete said.
“In the end, the Presiding Officers restored order and the President completed his address to the nation. The SoNA will be debated on 14-15 February, with the President’s reply to the debate scheduled for 16 February 2017.”
