Parliament has suspended its head of protection services‚ Zelda Holtzman‚ and her deputy‚ Motlatsi Mokgatla‚ with immediate effect yesterday as the growing discontent in the institution bubbled to the surface.

Both senior officials had to pack the contents of their offices immediately a meeting with parliamentary management.

It is understood that Holtzman and Mokgatla were escorted out of the premises by a senior protection services official.

Parliament's communication department confirmed that Holtzman and Mokgatla have been placed on "precautionary suspension" on full pay with immediate effect.

"The suspensions have been implemented to enable investigation of alleged security breaches and other issues affecting the Parliamentary Protection Services in an environment free of any perception of possible bias. The investigation should be completed by the end of August. Parliament wishes to stress that the suspensions do not in any way constitute a judgement or penalty‚" a statement read.

Contacted yesterday‚ Holtzman would not be drawn into commenting on her meeting with secretary to parliament Gengezi Mgidlana‚ where the suspension was communicated to her. "I don't know what you are talking about. Luzuko Jacobs (parliament spokesperson) deals with media‚" said Holtzman.

At the centre of the drama has been the use of the security services to chuck out misbehaving MPs‚ and the use of parliamentary protection services personnel to drive around secretary to parliament Gengezi Mgidlana and the seconding of police officials to parliament's protection services.

Tensions are rising in the institution‚ especially in the run-up to President Jacob Zuma's answering of questions in the National Assembly next Thursday.

The tensions centre on the possible conduct of the EFF next Thursday‚ and how parliament should deal with them if they make too much noise for Zuma to be heard‚ and refuse to obey an order for misbehaving MPs to leave the chamber‚ necessitating removal by force within the ambit of the rules.

Stricter rules on the removal of misbehaving MPs were passed yesterday afternoon with the EFF as the only party opposing them.

Furthermore‚ it was reported last month how Mgidlana has been using parliament vehicles fitted with blue lights to drive him and his family around‚ to the chagrin of protection services officials‚ including Holtzman.