Bring on the red overalls in the KZN legislature

Attempts to impose a dress code for MPLs in the KZN legislature have been abandoned - which means there will be no bans on red overalls and hard hats.

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Durban - Attempts to impose a dress code for MPLs in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature have been abandoned - which means there will be no bans on the red overalls and hard hats made fashionable by the EFF in the National Assembly.

Yesterday, when the legislature adopted an amended set of standing rules, it emerged that the parties had failed to reach consensus on a dress code.

Among the major changes to the rules is to allow clapping by MPLs during a special occasion, subject to approval by the presiding officer.

MPLs would also be allowed to address the legislature on pressing issues from their constituencies, and the MECs and premier would be given an opportunity to respond.

ANC chief whip, Nontembeko Boyce, said the rules provided an opportunity to clarify how MPLs interacted and discharged their responsibilities.

The DA’s George Mari was unsure about how allowing clapping on special occasions would be managed.

The IFP’s Lourens de Klerk said his party always supported strict and discipline in the legislature.

The NFP’s Erickson Zungu said the legislature should be a place where there was robust debate.

The EFF’s Vukani Ndlovu said they would have liked the amended rules to have provided for more speaking time in the House for small parties.

Earlier, he told the Daily News the legislature had wanted to ban the overalls.

Daily News