Home » EFF Calls on Army to “Defy Unjust Orders From a Criminal President” & Turn on Zuma

EFF Calls on Army to “Defy Unjust Orders From a Criminal President” & Turn on Zuma

Opposition parties have reacted with outrage to the announcement that the army will be on hand to help “maintain law and order” at the Opening of Parliament on Thursday, where President Jacob Zuma will deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2017. Both the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemned […]

By SAPeople
08-02-17 01:51
in Eish!

Opposition parties have reacted with outrage to the announcement that the army will be on hand to help “maintain law and order” at the Opening of Parliament on Thursday, where President Jacob Zuma will deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2017.

Both the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemned the decision, with the EFF calling it “the unleashing of the army on the people of South Africa”.

The EFF said: “It must be seen as the declaration of War on citizens, which means Zuma is planning to murder those he disagrees with at the SONA.”

The Presidency announced in a statement Tuesday evening that President Zuma has authorised the employment of 441 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for service in cooperation with the SA Police Service (SAPS) “to maintain law and order” until 10 February 2017.

His deliberate use of the words “law and order” imply their role this year will be very different to the traditional ceremonial role they play, said the DA.

The DA said they condemn the militarisation of the SONA and Chief Whip, John Steenhuisen, will seek an urgent meeting with Speaker Baleka Mbete over this “worrying development”.

Steenhuisen said “we will not stand by and allow for the ‘people’s parliament’ to be turned into a security-state show of force, meant to intimidate opposition both inside and outside of the ANC.

“Our message to President Zuma is clear: no number of SANDF soldiers will deter us from holding you accountable in Parliament.”

The EFF went a step further, calling on SANDF members to “defy unjust orders from a criminal president.

“They must refuse to be turned against the people; they must instead turn their guns against Zuma! We call on them to respect parliament and the parliament of the people and not of Zuma.”

The video below shows the SANDF at last year’s SONA… where their role was ceremonial:

https://twitter.com/EsethuHasane/status/829087186377142272

https://twitter.com/keryn_links/status/829083451320127488