Cape Town — Economic Freedom Fighter’s (EFF) MP, Naledi Chirwa, has issued an apology after she was fined for missing the budget speech in Parliament due to her baby falling ill.
Chirwa has been with the party since 2019 and said she could not attend the budget speech last month as her four-month-old daughter fell sick on the day. She issued a public apology, which she said was one of the disciplinary measures mandated by the party.
“I am regretful for failing to attend parliament. My four-month-old daughter was sick and so I went home. My daughter is currently with my mother until post-election. This is to allow me the opportunity to be completely engaged in organisational work during this period and to form part of the collective that will usher [in] an EFF government post May 29,” Chirwa said.
“I reported my absence from organisational duties to the organisation and not the designated whip in our caucus in parliament and am particularly regretful for this. I attended the portfolio committee for higher education in parliament on the virtual platform on the same day and contributed to the business of the day. she added.
Public Apology on failure to attend Budget Speech in Parliament on the 21st of February 2024 🙏🏾🫶🏾 pic.twitter.com/MGTIK5I7oq
— Mam’Mpungose 🇵🇸 (@NalediChirwa) March 4, 2024
Chirwa said she was fully dedicated to her position with the party, exemplified by her decision regarding her maternity leave. She was also ordered to purchase two EFF-branded gazebos, before the end of the month, believed to cost R5 000 each.
“I do not doubt my commitment to the movement of the people and the responsibility we have been entrusted with in the parliament of South Africa. This is the primary reason I went on maternity leave a day before I gave birth and returned two months prior to the lapse of my maternity leave.”
TimesLIVE reported that this is not the first such instance where the EFF was criticised for implementing its disciplinary measures. The party expelled MP Vusi Khoza for failing to hire 20 buses for the party’s 10th birthday celebration in July 2023. He was as among 63 EFF public representatives expelled and recalled from parliament, provincial legislatures and councils over the party’s 10th birthday celebration transport debacle.
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Picture: X/@NalediChirwa
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
