Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has come out swinging against Parliament’s controversial new rules and vowed that his party will fight them.
Last week Malema was removed from the National Assembly for calling Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa a murderer. Presiding officer Grace Boroto ordered the EFF leader to withdraw the remark. He not only refused but also repeated the refrain. Boroto then called in Parliament’s security personnel to remove him from the chamber.
This week Malema said his party had written to parliamentary Speaker Baleka Mbete demanding immediate action against Boroto.
Speaking to journalists in Braamfontein‚ Malema charged that the new rules had been passed irregularly and allowed for MPs to be assaulted.
He also called Parliament’s new security recruits “bouncers” and “blood-thirsty apartheid agents“.
The EFF leader likened his removal from the National Assembly to an act of mob justice and said the party would fight against what it believed were unjust rules.
“Freedom of expression and speech are protected by the Constitution. We will not allow the ruling party to militarise Parliament‚ and we will forever remind presiding officers that we are not guests of (President Jacob) Zuma and Baleka Mbete‚ but representatives with maximum freedom of speech‚” he said.
Meanwhile‚ the EFF’s Constitutional Court quest to get Zuma to “pay back the money” — as recommended by public protector Thuli Madonsela — for nonsecurity upgrades to his Nkandla homestead is scheduled to be heard on February 9 next year.
The party welcomed the court’s decision to hear the matter‚ and Malema invited Madonsela to join the EFF in its case if she so wished.
Malema comes out swinging against Parliament’s ‘unjust’ rules
Last week Malema was removed from the National Assembly for calling Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa a murderer. Presiding officer Grace Boroto ordered the EFF leader to withdraw the remark. He not only refused but also repeated the refrain. Boroto then called in Parliament’s security personnel to remove him from the chamber.
This week Malema said his party had written to parliamentary Speaker Baleka Mbete demanding immediate action against Boroto.
Speaking to journalists in Braamfontein‚ Malema charged that the new rules had been passed irregularly and allowed for MPs to be assaulted.
He also called Parliament’s new security recruits “bouncers” and “blood-thirsty apartheid agents“.
The EFF leader likened his removal from the National Assembly to an act of mob justice and said the party would fight against what it believed were unjust rules.
“Freedom of expression and speech are protected by the Constitution. We will not allow the ruling party to militarise Parliament‚ and we will forever remind presiding officers that we are not guests of (President Jacob) Zuma and Baleka Mbete‚ but representatives with maximum freedom of speech‚” he said.
Meanwhile‚ the EFF’s Constitutional Court quest to get Zuma to “pay back the money” — as recommended by public protector Thuli Madonsela — for nonsecurity upgrades to his Nkandla homestead is scheduled to be heard on February 9 next year.
The party welcomed the court’s decision to hear the matter‚ and Malema invited Madonsela to join the EFF in its case if she so wished.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos