I rise on a point of order, Speaker.
Hon member, there is a point of order.
Speaker, the member who is making a statement is reflecting on a Minister. He has not named the Minister, but a Minister is a serving Member of Parliament. If the hon member has a substantive motion, he needs to submit it so that we are able to deal with it properly.
In going about it in this manner - not naming the Minister - he is casting aspersions on the entire executive and that is unparliamentary. I am therefore requesting the Speaker to rule. [Interjections.]
Speaker, may I address you on that point of order?
Proceed, hon member.
The member has not named the Minister. So therefore, which person's integrity is he impugning?
Well, that is exactly the point of order on which that hon member is rising, namely that, by not naming the Minister, he is casting aspersions on all the Ministers present here and that is the problem. [Interjections.] Proceed, hon member.
Speaker, may I address you? The member is making a statement, not a substantive motion. In a statement members are entitled to express themselves on any matter. Thank you.
On any Minister ... [Interjections.]
As you know, hon member, allegations of improper conduct must be made by way of a substantive motion. Those are the Rules.
Speaker, I agree with that and I would suggest that you stop that member, because he is trying to take a chance.
Sir, may I address you? The member is not talking ... [Interjections.]
Hon member, I have already said allegations of improper conduct must be made by way of a substantive motion. Those are the Rules.
He is not making any allegations of improper conduct. [Interjections.]
Order, hon members. Order!
He is quoting from a reply to a question and giving the exact details that were in the question's reply. So we are not talking about improper conduct.
Hon Speaker, may I address you?
Yes, hon member.
I would like to appeal to the Deputy Chief Whip of the DA. In terms of the Rules, when the Speaker or a presiding officer has made a ruling, there are processes to follow when challenging that ruling. The Speaker has now made a ruling. If the Deputy Chief Whip of the DA is not happy with it, she knows which process to follow. She shouldn't be arguing with the presiding officer. That really brings the House into disrepute. [Applause.]
Hon Pandor?
Mr Speaker ... [Interjections.]
Hon member, there is hon Pandor. You are not hon Pandor. At least, not yet! [Laughter.] Proceed, hon Pandor.
I can assure you, Speaker, nor will he ever be! [Laughter.] The hon Deputy Chief Whip of the largest opposition party is clearly aware that her member is in breach of a ruling which you had previously made. On the very same matter, the hon Maynier thought that by employing the trick of saying a certain Minister, or a former this, that or the other, he could avoid being in breach of the Rules. He isn't, as he is doing exactly what he attempted to do last week, which is naming a serving Minister. I believe you had ruled on the matter and we should not disrespect the House and our own Rules by behaving in that manner. Thank you, Speaker. [Applause.]
Thank you very much. I have made a ruling on the matter. [Interjections.]
Speaker, please.
Yes, proceed.
Speaker, the hon member is not making any allegations against a Minister. He is simply reiterating what is in a parliamentary reply. What is wrong with that? There is nothing wrong with that. There is no Rule that has been broken or breached. [Interjections.]
Order, hon members!
I would like you to look at the Rules ... [Interjections.]
I have. Take your seat, hon member. Yes, hon Jeffery?
Speaker, you have made the ruling, as other members have said. I don't understand why the DA can't abide by that ruling. Do they think they are superior to it? [Interjections.]
Order, hon members! Hon members, as you know, there are procedures agreed to by this very House. If members wish to table their matters then, of course, there are proper ways of going about it. They must follow the procedures which they know. I have already made a ruling on this matter.