National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams Adams issued an apology on Tuesday to the National Assembly for the derogatory, racist and vulgar language he used against a woman in a social media video rant.
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza described Adams’ rant was “simply repugnant” to repeat when she reprimanded him.
“They are simply repugnant, wholly unbefitting of high office and this institution, and therefore it is inexcusable,” Didiza said.
She also said there were avenues available to raise grievances to argue a case both in Parliament and elsewhere for recourse to vulgarity and sexism.
Adams’ troubles date back to when he posted a nine-minute video on Facebook.
In February, he accused a DA female member of endangering the lives of his children, falsely accused City of Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and called the DA names.
DA chief whip George Michalakis lodged a complaint against Adams with the Office of the Registrar of Members’ Interests the following month.
In its report, the Ethics Committee found that he contravened the Ethics Code and that Adams had stated that he was wrong and undertook to apologise.
“The committee was alarmed at the extremely vulgar and derogatory language used by the member toward, particularly, a woman in the video footage,” reads the report.
Didiza said the Code of Ethics outlined the behaviour as expected of MPs when they engage in communication, particularly in social media platforms, that they may not bring Parliament into disrepute.
“A member who is addressing another member or a member of the public on social media platforms must not use derogatory racist or sexist language or content,” she said.
Didiza also said it was important for MPs when they communicate on social media platforms to guard the language they use.
“I just want all of us to be aware so that in future we do appreciate the responsibility that we hold. All of the members were elected to the Assembly by the people of South Africa to champion their interests. Our people expect us to do so with vigour, determination and dignity.”
Adams was made to enter an apology in the National Assembly, to the public and to the woman that he referred to in the Facebook post for the derogatory, racist and vulgar language that he used.
“I will apologise, Speaker. I will withdraw. Thank you,” he said.
Adams will be suspended from parliamentary debates and committees for 15 days and his salary will be docked for the same length of period.
He will also attend a consultation with Didiza, the co-chairpersons of the Ethics Committee and the Acting Registrar for discussions on the ethical conduct required of an MP.
Meanwhile, minister for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa was reprimanded for failing to failing to declare their financial interests within the stipulated deadline in 2024.
Ramakgopa was not present when Didiza reprimanded other culprit ministers and MPs last month, but she tendered an apology because she was on an international trip.
Didiza said the Ethics Code provides a set of values for members, who had pledged obedience to the Constitution, to obey, respect and uphold all the law and perform their functions to the best of their ability.
She said the code obliged MPs annually to declare their financial interest in a public register to allow the public to confirm that no member may have been exposed to a conflict of interest.
Didiza noted with concern that Ramakgopa was provided an opportunity to make written representations but did not do so.
“I, therefore, want to indicate that this is not acceptable,” she said.
Ramokgopa was fined a penalty of R10 000 that will be docked from her salary.
