EFF’s McKenzie and Ndlozi in war of words over Roman-Dutch law

CAPE TOWN – Minister for Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie was on Friday embroiled in a war of words with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Parliament over Roman-Dutch law and its practice by former Western Cape High Court Chief Justice John Hlophe.

Hlophe is now the leader of the official opposition MK Party in the same House that ousted him just five months ago.

During Thursday night’s State Opening of Parliament debate, McKenzie said he would help criminals convicted by Hlophe appeal their sentences.

But the EFF responded by saying it was not aware of Hlophe’s views on decolonisation law.

Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie said parties that refer to those who joined the Government of National Unity as sellouts were bitter at not being part of it.

But he received backing from EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi when he said the country had a sovereign wealth fund.

“You always talk about education, Honourable Ndlozi, your colleagues are delivering newspapers while you are the ice boy here, you are being sent everywhere, you must not come for me.”

McKenzie again drew Ndlozi’s ire when he suggested MK Party parliamentary leader Hlophe had been hypocritical in his practice of Roman-Dutch law while a judge.

“You have never seen anything wrong with Roman-Dutch law. Today, when you are no longer there, you see something wrong with Roman-Dutch law.”

Ndlozi said McKenzie was displaying ignorance and pointed out that Hlophe had written legal papers outlining his views on decolonising the law.