Speaker suspends MP

2010-02-17 20:14

Johannesburg - The Speaker of the National Assembly on Wednesday suspended Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard for swearing in Parliament during a walkout of the DA and Cope.

Speaker Max Sisulu said he had decided to invoke the provisions of Rule 52 of the Rules of the National Assembly and suspended Kohler-Barnard for the maximum of five parliamentary working days allowed in terms of the rules.

Sisulu said: "Since the DA had left the Chamber at that stage, there was no opportunity for the chair to express itself on the matter."

"Ms Kohler-Barnard has since admitted to the media and to her party that she did indeed use the distasteful phrase."

Kohler-Barnard used the word "fuck" during the walkout of the DA and Cope in support of Cope MP Mluleki George, after he was sent out of the National Assembly after refusing to withdraw his statement that the government was steering the country into lawlessness.

Earlier on Wednesday she was suspended for five days by her own party's Chief Whip, Ian Davidson. This, shortly after ANC Chief Whip Mathole Motshekga called on the DA and Parliament to take action against Kohler-Barnard.

Sisulu said Kohler-Barnard's behaviour had been unparliamentary, unbecoming and offensive in the extreme.

Her suspension came into effect immediately.

- SAPA