Julius Malema and EFF MPs suspended from this year’s SONA
It looks like President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his SONA peacefully this year as EFF MPs including Julius Malema have been suspended.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says the decision to suspend some of its top brass, including leader Julius Malema from Parliament and ultimately this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) and National Budget Speech, is politically motivated.
This comes as the Western Cape High Court dismissed the red beret’s bid to overturn the suspension.
JULIUS MALEMA AND OTHER EFF MPS SUSPENDED FROM SONA
EFF leader Julius Malema, Deputy President Floyd Shivambu, General Secretary Marshall Dlamini, along with Sinawo Thambo, Vuyani Pambo, and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, stormed the stage where President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the SONA in 2023, staging a protest.
The party was protesting against the serious allegations levelled against Ramaphosa about his Phala Phala game farm.
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The six defied the Speaker’s order to leave the Chamber during the disruption and had to be forcibly removed by the Parliament Security Services.
Following the decision, the party said the ruling underscores the suppressive nature of the executive’s attempt to stifle accountability and silence those who hold Ramaphosa accountable.
“The timing of this suspension, specifically choosing February 2024 to exclude our members from the upcoming SONA, is particularly nefarious. The move appears to be a calculated attempt to ensure that Ramaphosa can deliver his final SONA without facing scrutiny from the EFF,” the party said.
The suspensions of the six EFF members are effective from Thursday, 1 February to 29 February.
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PARLIAMENT WELCOMES COURT’S DECISION
Parliament has welcomed the decision by the Western Cape High Court, saying that the EFF had requested the court’s leniency in accepting the late filing of their replies to the affidavit for the National Assembly and their Heads of Arguments in the matter.
“We concur with the majority judgement that the responsibility lies with the applicant, in this case, the EFF, to ensure that they adhere to court rules and have a well-prepared case that is ripe for hearing.
“The EFF’s imposed unreasonable timeframes and their filing on midnight before the next court day not only inconvenienced Parliament and the Court but also indicated their lack of readiness for their application to be heard.”
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