DA to challenge legislation allowing use of police in parliament

05 March 2015 - 11:18 By Sapa
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The State of the Nation address was disrupted by the EFF resulting in the party being ordered out of the chamber by security forces. File photo
The State of the Nation address was disrupted by the EFF resulting in the party being ordered out of the chamber by security forces. File photo
Image: RODGER BOSCH/POOL

The DA on Thursday will challenge legislation allowing for the arrest or removal of people who create a disturbance in the National Assembly.

The party approached the Western Cape High Court after the removal of Economic Freedom Fighters MPs from the National Assembly during the state-of-the-nation address on February 12.

The DA also wants an order preventing the Speaker from calling in police pending the outcome of its challenge to the constitutionality of section 11 of the Powers, Privileges, and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act.

EFF MPs were removed by police and parliamentary protection officers after Speaker Baleka Mbete invoked section 11 of the act.

The DA wants the section removed from the act, saying it clashes with section 58 of the Constitution.

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