CAPE TOWN – The Economic Freed Fighters (EFF) is continuing its campaign against Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa over the killings of 34 mineworkers at Marikana nearly four years ago.
EFF members were ordered to leave the National Council of Provinces yesterday after fiercely objecting to the deputy chairperson Raseriti Tau’s decision, to disallow follow-up questions on the issue.
The EFF wanted to know what Ramaphosa was doing to implement the findings of the Farlam Commission of Inquiry into the tragedy.
But Ramaphosa told the house that because he had been summonsed over the matter, he had decided to recuse himself from any involvement.
It was a stormy end to Ramaphosa’s question and answer session. Tau told EFF member Leigh Mathys her questions wouldn’t be answered because the matter was sub judice.
“The rules of this house are quite clear,” Tau said.
Mathys fired back claiming that he wanted to protect the executive.
“You put this question last on the roll because you knew what you wanted to do. This house and your MPs always want to protect the executive.”
The Democratic Alliances (DA) Jacques Julius then questioned Tau’s decision to allow the question.
“Why did you allow [the question] in the first place if you do not allow the deputy president to answer follow up questions on this?”
Ramaphosa referred questions to ministers tasked with implementing the Farlam Commission’s recommendations, saying it would be inappropriate for him to be involved because of the litigation against him.