Cape Town – Parliament’s powers and privileges committee on Monday night officially adopted a report recommending the suspension without pay of 12 EFF MPs.

The committee report will now be tabled in the National Assembly for approval.

If the House approves the report, the suspension of the MPs – who include EFF leader Julius Malema – will be effective the next day.

On Friday, the committee recommended that Malema, EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu, Mpho Ramakatsa, Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala, Godrich Gardee, and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi be suspended without pay for 30 days.

Malema was found guilty on four charges of contempt of Parliament.

Shivambu and Ramakatsa were convicted on seven charges each.

Another group of MPs, consisting of Elsabe Louw, Ngwanamakwetle Mashabela, Nthako Matiase, Hlengiwe Maxon, Magdalene Moonsamy, and Andile Mngxitama, who were found guilty on two charges each of contempt of Parliament, also face suspension for 14 days without remuneration.

It was recommended that the rest of the 20 MPs, who were found guilty of one charge each of contempt of Parliament, be ordered to submit a verbal apology to the House.

The disciplinary process arose from the EFF’s disruption of the National Assembly during President Jacob Zuma’s question time on 21 August.

They were apparently unhappy with Zuma’s replies to questions about his private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, where R246m of taxpayers’ money had been spent on upgrades.

DA MPs Annelie Lotriet and Shahied Esau voted against the adoption of the report.

MPs from the IFP and the UDM were not present during Monday’s meeting.

The opposition parties had indicated they would have preferred a reprimand.

SAPA