The EFF is not willing to accept the ban of their top leadership from attending the State of the Nation Address (SONA) to take place on Thursday. In a bid to appeal this notion, they are returning to the Western Cape High Court today to have the court suspend disciplinary sanctions against six of their members of Parliament.
EFF leader Julius Malema, his deputy Floyd Shivambu, secretary-general Marshall Dlamini, spokesperson Sinawo Tambo, Vuyani Pambo and Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi were held in contempt of Parliament for their protest at the 2023 SONA. The EFF is against this decision claiming that more than 1 million EFF voters voices won't be heard. The party had previously approached the court, but the matter was struck off the roll because they failed to make submissions on time. During his ruling, the judge presiding over the matter Nathan Erasmus blamed the late filing of papers by the party, saying it was their own doing.
"The application is struck from the roll. The applicants shall pay the first, second, third and sixth respondents' costs of the application."
Parliament legal advisor Zuraya Adhikarie told the court that the sanction to suspend the EFF MPs can't happen later, especially since the current term was about to come to an end. Adhikarie said if the party's matter is not heard today, then it means that they will not attend SONA on Thursday. New rules were set for Parliament and disrupting the president while he is delivering his speech. It is considered as violation and a punishable offence.
The EFF previously explained that the protest was an attempt to hold President Cyril Ramaphosa accountable for the Phala Phala saga. "Despite these unjust actions we want to assure the public that all EFF members of Parliament who will attend the SONA will continue to hold Ramaphosa accountable for his failures. These include the rampant unemployment statistics, rising crime rates, gender-based violence and the Phala Phala scandal which was the primary reason for our initial protest." the party said in a statement.
