THE Western Cape High Court has dismissed the EFF's application to suspend the parliamentary decision to sanction six of its members.
The members were found guilty of disrupting the State of the Nation Address (Sona) in 2023.
This comes after the EFF had requested the court's leniency in accepting the late filing of their replies to the affidavit for the National Assembly and their heads of arguments in the matter.
Last year, Parliament endorsed the recommendation from the Powers and Privileges Committee to suspend six EFF members - party leader Julius Malema, deputy Floyd Shivambu, secretary general Marshall Dlamini, national spokesman Sinawo Thambo, member of parliament Vuyani Pambo, and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, for contempt of Parliament.
They defied the National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's order to leave the Chamber during the disruption and had to be forcibly removed by the Parliament Security Services.
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Reacting to the judgment, the EFF said the timing of this suspension, specifically choosing February 2024 to exclude their members from the upcoming Sona, is particularly nefarious.
It said this move appears to be a calculated attempt to ensure that Ramaphosa can deliver his final Sona without facing scrutiny from the EFF.
Thambo said the ruling underscores the suppressive of the executive’s attempts to stifle accountability and silence those who hold Ramaphosa accountable.
He said the partisan and draconian decision to suspend their leader and other for contempt of Parliament, is clearly politically motivated and aims to intimidate those who seek to hold the government accountable.
“The initial peaceful protest at the Sona of 2023, stemmed from serious allegations against Ramaphosa regarding the discovery of large amounts of foreign cash concealed in his furniture, which eventually unfolded into what is now known as the Phala Phala scandal.
EFF called for all citizen to register to vote this coming weekend, and vote against the ANC.
Parliament welcomed the court decision.
The EFF's application was dismissed with costs and the suspensions of the six EFF members are effective from Thursday, 1 February to 29 February.
