Heated exchange ensues over Malema’s Ad Hoc Committee absence

Economic Freedom Party (EFF) Julius Malema’s absence at Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee looking into concerns around national security.

Proceedings of Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee looking into concerns around national security started with former Independent Police Investigating Directorate (IPID) Head Robert McBride taking the stand.

However, the hearings took a dramatic turn after the Economic Freedom Party (EFF) explained Julius Malema’s absence.

The EFF says Malema is consulting lawyers over what it alleges is an AfriForum-driven case, allegedly colluding with the state.

The explanation was strongly disputed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), sparking a heated exchange between EFF MP Leigh-Ann Mathys and DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach, forcing the chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, to intervene.

Malema is expected to be sentenced on Friday by the East London Magistrate’s Court in the gun-firing case.

Breytenbach said: “You think I need your permission?”

Mathys replied: “No, you don’t need my permission, but you weren’t even being addressed. You enter into things that got nothing to do with you, and when you comment, do not think for one second that we’re not going to be respond. We’re not scared of this white supremacy that you pronounce out.”

Breytenbach then replied: “The cheap race card, as usual. Shame.”

Mathys responded: “That’s all you know, is race cards, when you call you out for your supremacy attitudes that you’re displaying here. That, be that… because that’s all you have.”

Lekganyane said: “Honourable, Mathys…I’m gonna give that round to Honourable Mathys….Honourable Mathys and Honourable Breytenbach, may you please stand up?