EFF files court papers to counter 'pay back the money' charges

The EFF on Monday filed an application with the Western Cape High Court for an urgent interdict to halt Parliament's disciplinary charges against 20 of its MPs.

"We filed this morning. We are now waiting for a hearing date," Economic Freedom Fighters spokesman Mbyuseni Ndlozi said.

The application was filed a day before the EFF MPs are due to appear before a disciplinary hearing of Parliament's powers and privileges committee on charges stemming from their heckling of President Jacob Zuma last month.

On August 21, EFF members shouted "pay back the money" at Zuma in the National Assembly in reference to the so-called security upgrades at his private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.

The MPs risk suspension from Parliament for up to 14 days if found guilty of disrupting the legislature and holding it in contempt.