After being punished for interfering with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech to inaugurate the new parliamentary session a year ago, a South African court on Tuesday upheld the prohibition on opposition party leaders attending the event this week.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the third-largest party in Parliament, will not be permitted to send its leader, deputy leader, and four other representatives to the State of the Nation speech on Thursday.
From February 1 to February 29, the six MPs were not allowed to return to Parliament. They were part of the group of EFF members that the speaker told to leave the room for interfering with Mr. Ramaphosa’s address about 2023.
However, before security forced them to leave, the group—led by EFF president Julius Malema—jumped on stage and waved signs urging Mr. Ramaphosa to resign.
EFF MPs frequently got into fights with security personnel and interrupted parliamentary proceedings.
To challenge their suspension, Mr. Malema, Floyd Shivambu, the deputy president of the EFF, and the other MPs filed a lawsuit. They filed a second appeal after their first was denied, this time requesting the invalidation of the new parliamentary rules that had suspended them. On Tuesday, the Western Cape High Court denied the appeal.
Renowned for his contentious politics, Mr. Malema was kicked from of the ruling party in 2012. Billionaire Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa, has previously charged Mr. Malema of inciting racial tensions and being anti-white.
The African National Congress (ANC)-led government has left the poor and black majority of South Africa disillusioned, according to the left-wing EFF, and they continue to live in poverty as a result of the system of racial segregation known as apartheid, which came to an end thirty years ago. Their critics occasionally characterize their policies as anti-White.
As a show of support for the southern working class, EFF MPs frequently show up to Parliament wearing red industrial work attire, rubber boots, and hard hats similar to those worn by construction workers or miners. African.
The EFF’s female members dress like housekeepers and cleaners.
The anticipated date of this year’s national elections, which are anticipated to take place between May and August, may be revealed by Mr. Ramaphosa at his State of the Nation speech.
Although the ANC has ruled South Africa since apartheid ended in 1994, this year’s election may be a turning moment in the country’s history. According to polls, the ANC may receive less than 50% of the vote for the first time. In order to maintain power and keep Mr. Ramaphosa in office for a second and final term, he would need to put together a coalition.
