Johannesburg – The powers and privileges committee in Parliament will on Tuesday commence with a disciplinary hearing against 20 EFF MPs who heckled President Jacob Zuma in the National Assembly.

“The committee will communicate with the media and the general public after the initial deliberations to determine whether or not to open the proceedings to the media,” the parliamentary communication services said in a statement on Sunday.

It said according to the rules of the National Assembly, the meeting should be a closed session, but provision can be made for the committee to open proceedings if all parties agree to it.

On 21 August, Economic Freedom Fighters MPs brought Parliament to a standstill by shouting “pay back the money” at Zuma during presidential question time. This was in reference to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s recommendation that Zuma pay back part of the money spent on his private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.

On 29 September, the Western Cape High Court denied the EFF an urgent interdict to halt the disciplinary proceedings.

SAPA