Parliament to strictly apply new house rules during SONA
For the first time - the rules will make it a breach of house rules to interject before the president delivers his speech or during his address.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party members are removed by presidential task force and Parliament officials as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attempts to deliver his 2023 State of the Nation (SONA) at the Cape Town City Hall in Cape Town on February 9, 2023. Picture: ESA ALEXANDER / AFP
CAPE TOWN - Parliament says its new house rules will be strictly applied on Thursday night when President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his eighth State of the Nation Address.
For the first time - the rules will make it a breach of house rules to interject before the president delivers his speech or during his address.
Parliament adopted the new rules that are applicable for joint sittings of both houses late last year - in attempts to limit disruptions to the occasion and to maintain the decorum of the house.
In recent years - the delivery of the state of the nation address has been delayed by points of order and even violent scenes usually sparked by the Economic Freedom Fighters.
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But Parliament says the new rules are not aimed at any party.
Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said according to the rules - members will not be allowed to challenge the presiding officers’ rulings on any disruptions.
“The presiding officers should be allowed to address the issues of that member, without any concurrent points of order that seeks to interrupt that engagement.”
The presiding officers are empowered to ask a member to leave the house for contravening the rules, for disregarding their authority or for gross disorderly conduct.
Members will also not be allowed to bring posters into the chamber.