EFF returns to court in bid to force Parly to allow leaders to attend SONA
The party wants the decision by the National Assembly to adopt a report suspending them on the month of February to be set aside, arguing it denies its over one million voters the right to be represented during SONA.
FILE: EFF leaders Julius Malema and Floyd Shivambu outside Parliament after staging a walkout from the State of the Nation Address 2020. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) return to the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday to force Parliament to allow its senior leaders to attend the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The party wants to argue on an urgent basis that leader Julius Malema, his deputy Floyd Shivambu, and four other MPs be allowed to attend SONA.
The party wants the decision by the National Assembly to adopt a report suspending them on the month of February to be set aside, arguing it denies its over one million voters the right to be represented during SONA.
The EFF approached the court last week but the matter was struck of the roll because the party hadn't made certain submissions on time.
It returns on Tuesday to continue its submission that the decision of the National Assembly violated the rights of its voters, who must be represented, especially during SONA.
Parliament legal advisor Zuraya Adhikarie told the court in papers that the sanction to suspend the EFF MPs can't happen later, especially since the current term was about to come to an end.
The EFF has another separate matter before the same court to have the new joint rules implemented at Thursday's SONA.
The new rules, adopted late last year, make it a violation to disrupt the president during his address and the EFF wants them suspended, arguing that they violate their freedom to protest and freedom of speech.
The high court is expected to deliver judgment before Thursday.