Parliamentary argy-bargy normal, says Ramaphosa

People should not fret too much about the recent increase in tension between MPs during parliamentary debates, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday (24/07/2014).

"Parliaments are often beerhall type of theatres where people enjoy debates," Ramaphosa said while addressing a parliamentary Press Gallery Association (PGA) breakfast in Cape Town.

"I've seen some Parliaments where people exchange fist fights. We still have some decorum in our Parliament."

Ramaphosa was responding to recent debates which have been characterised by name-calling, several MPs being reprimanded, and some being ordered to leave debates.

Ramaphosa ascribed these developments to the fact that there were many MPs new to Parliament following the May elections.

"The best thing to do is to accept it as the way of parliamentary discourse," he said.

"It will go back to normal."

Ramaphosa himself was on the receiving end of many an insult, with Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema on Wednesday accusing him of "sleeping with white monopoly capital" - Sapa