EFF SG Marshall Dlamini gets suspended sentence for assaulting police officer during 2019 SONA
EFF Secretary General, Marshall Dlamini was also slapped with a R6,000 fine for malicious damage to property.
EFF leadership attend the sentencing proceeding of the party's Secretary General Marshall Dlamini at the Cape Town Magistrates Court. Picture: @EFFSouthAfrica/X
JOHANNESBURG - Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) secretary-general, Marshall Dlamini, has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for five years.
He appeared at the Cape Town Regional Court on Friday. Dlamini was also slapped with a R6,000 fine for malicious damage to property.
This relates to his assault on policeman Johan Carstens in Parliament during President Cyril Ramaphosa's 2019 State of the Nation Address (SONA).
READ: Malema reiterates firearm case 'was a campaign by AfriForum'
Addressing EFF supporters following his sentencing, Dlamini said he did not regret his actions.
"Even here in court, the magistrate said I showed no remorse and no regret. I was not going to show any remorse or regret or make any apology. What I did that day, I can do it again. So, they wanted me to come here and apologise when I was executing my duties," said Dlamini.
The EFF has announced plans to appeal the sentence handed down to Dlamini.
Despite the sentence, the red berets maintain Dlamini’s innocence.
“Therefore, the actions of our Secretary General in defence of our leadership were necessary and revolutionary. Given a similar situation any disciplined member of the EFF would react that way and we have every intention to continue to do so.
“We will not ever be intimidated into silence by a weaponised South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting agency or the courts,” said EFF spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys.