- Parliament has referred the EFF disruptions during last week’s SONA to its joint rules committee.
- EFF MPs stormed the stage where President Cyril Ramaphosa was sitting.
- Chaos erupted when EFF parliamentarians were forcibly evicted by heavily armed police and parliamentary protection services officers.
The EFF’s fight with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s bodyguards during the State of the Nation (SONA) address on Thursday has been referred to Parliament’s Joint Rules Committee.
EFF MPs stormed the stage where Ramaphosa was sitting during SONA. The party had prevented the president from speaking for more than 30 minutes at the start of his speech and he was eventually ordered to leave.
As they left the chamber, chaos broke out and the EFF MPs were forcibly ejected by heavily armed police and parliamentary protection services officers as they rushed the stage towards the president.
READ | EFF to challenge his removal from SONA in court, demands apology from National Assembly president
The conduct of the EFF was reflected in the announcement documents, presentations and committee reports (ATC).
“The circumstances of the physical removal of the members of the House during the State of the Union address, which took place on February 9, 2023, together with the relevant parliamentary records, are referred to the consideration of the Joint Committee on Rules, in terms of Joint Rule 14GA,” the document said.
Parts of the 14GA rule say:
- If a member refuses to leave the Chamber when ordered to do so by the presiding officer in terms of Joint Rule 14G, the presiding officer must instruct the Sergeant-at-Arms or usher to remove the member from the Chamber and from the precincts. of Parliament. in the act.
- If the Sergeant-at-Arms or Usher cannot personally effect the removal of the member, the presiding officer may call Parliamentary Protective Services to assist in removing the member from the House and the halls of Parliament.
- If a member resists attempts to be removed from the House, the Sergeant-at-Arms, Usher and Parliamentary Protective Services may use such force as is reasonably necessary to overcome any resistance.
- No member may, in any way, physically intervene, prevent, obstruct or hinder the removal of a member of the Chamber under the terms of these Regulations.
Last week, EFF leader Julius Malema said he wanted an apology from National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula for the fight between his parliamentarians and the police.
If there is no apology within 48 hours, the party would go to court.
They are challenging the conduct of Mapisa-Nqakula and that of Ramaphosa’s protectors during SONA.
Asked about the EFF threats, Parliament spokesman Moloto Mathopo said: “We will see them in court.”
READ | ‘We had to act’: Cele defends police action against EFF, compares SONA chaos to Verwoerd murder
Hours after last Thursday’s drama, Parliament said in a statement that under the Joint Rules of Parliament security services can intervene directly anywhere in the precincts in terms of section 4(2) of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of the Parliament and the Provincial Legislatures. Law (Law No. 4 of 2004, “when there is immediate danger to the life or safety of any person or damage to any property”.
Therefore, the security services do not have to wait for the invitation of the presidents to enter the chamber when the life or safety of a member is at stake.
