EFF to boycott SONA after High Court upholds suspension
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will boycott Thursday
evening’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) after the Western Cape High Court
upheld the suspension of six MPs.
Party leader Julius Malema, and five other party MPs who
won’t be allowed to attend this year’s event.
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COURTESY: X - @EFFSouthAfricaIn November, Parliament's Powers and Privileges Committee
ordered six EFF MPs, including party leader Julius Malema and his deputy Floyd
Shivambu, to apologise to President Cyril Ramaphosa for disrupting his SONA in
February 2023. They were also ordered to apologise to National Assembly Speaker
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the parliament and the public. They are also serving a
month-long suspension
The Court characterised the EFF’s application as “an abuse of process” and described their conduct as “irresponsible”, considering that they were the cause that the matter had to be considered on an urgent basis. Parliament agrees with the court that the argument claiming the suspensions infringed upon the constitutional rights of the EFF to participate in the State of the Nation Address was without merit, as the remaining EFF MPs could still adequately represent them.
The Court further expressed its frustration that the EFF had, after their initial application failed, “repackaged” the same case with “cosmetic surgery” and requested a different relief, in effect to suspend the sanctions against its members. This caused the court to order punitive costs against the EFF.
In a statement on Thursday, the party said partial
participation in the SONA programme would imply that some members agree with
parliament’s decision.
The EFF said it will now focus its attention on the launch
of the party's election manifesto which will take place at Moses Mabhida
Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
“It is evident, and certainly beyond a reasonable doubt,
that the courts continue to be part of the Ramaphosa defence mob, whose primary
and sole aim is to protect the racist white capitalist establishment. Courts in
South Africa have been reduced to being part of the Ramaphosa defence mob
because he is a representative and puppet of the white capitalist establishment,”
the EFF said.
“All EFF public representatives will dedicate their maximum attention and focus on the launch of the EFF manifesto, taking place at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, 10th February 2024. We know that our maximum focus on the manifesto launch and election work will rescue South Africa from the undemocratic and unconstitutional rulings of Parliament and the courts.”
The EFF's Statement on the Western Cape High Court Judgment Against EFF Members of Parliament
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) February 8, 2024
-Consequently, all EFF Members of Parliament will not participate in the 2024 SONA activities and programme, as these are undemocratic and unconstitutional and the so-called State of… pic.twitter.com/xeTx9DuRhv
Parliament welcomed the High Court’s decision
‘’We concur with the Court that when dealing with such
matters, it will trench on the separation of powers and the duty which the
Court has to pay due and proper respect to Parliament’s competence to regulate
its processes and affairs, including the disciplining of its members,’’ said
Moloto Mathapo, Parliament spokesperson.
‘’It has always been Parliament’s aim to protect the
institution from persistent and continuous disruptions. The State of the Nation
Address must take place in a peaceful environment and with respect for the
decorum of the House and the people of South Africa,’’ he added.
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