The Pan African Parliament (PAP) vote for leadership on Monday was put off after Pemmy Majodina, the Chief Whip of the ANC in the South African National Assembly was kicked by an agitated Senegalese MP.
Commenting on the violent disagreement, Majodina said: “We as the southern region and northern region we are saying we cannot defy a principle that has been adopted.
“We received a legal opinion from the African Union that was saying leadership positions must be based on rotation.”
Some French-speaking African MPs insisted on a vote to decide the new president and his deputy, while their English-speaking counterparts opted for leadership through rotation.
The heated arguments soon turned into scuffles on the floor.
Majodina said tried to intervene in a scuffle involving Zimbabwean MP, Pupurai Togarepi, when she was kicked.
“I went there to make peace. I was trying to separate them. It is at that stage that I was attacked by the honourable Djibril, who is the chairperson of the rules … And he kicked me. I am not going to take this lying down,” said Majodina.
Police were called in to restore order.
Proceedings were adjourned and were expected to continue Tuesday.
