Gordhan lied to Parliament, says Mpofu

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) national chairperson Dali Mpofu has defended EFF national spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi’s point of order against Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan during his budget speech in parliament on Wednesday.

In the minister’s introduction, he said: “I would like to thank the president and the deputy for guidance,” eliciting cheers from ANC MPs.

As he continued thanking his other colleagues, Ndlozi raised a point of order and said Gordhan thanking Zuma was like “a springbok thanking a lion for passing all the other bucks and targeting it as its next meal”. He further disputed that the president had contributed any guidance in Wednesday’s proceedings.

Read more: WATCH: Ndlozi’s interruption in parly leaves Gordhan with hilarious sad face 

Those who took to Twitter to criticise Ndlozi were confronted by Mpofu, who defended his party’s spokesperson and said his point of order was sensible. He further challenged Gordhan to show him the president’s guidance in the budget.  “You CAN’T lie to parliament!” he said.

Mbuyiseni's point was NOT frivolous:Pravin must show us even one word in the budget where Zuma gave "guidance"..You CAN'T lie to parliament!

— Dali Mpofu (@AdvDali_Mpofu) February 23, 2017

Some took Mpofu’s side, saying the minister was “out of order” for thanking a “mere reject”. Some, however, said the minister was only trying to be nice. “Sometimes diplomacy has to prevail,” they said.