The EFF will mount a court challenge against a parliamentary committee decision to ban Julius Malema and some of his party leaders from the state of the nation address (Sona) 2024.
They argue that the move was aimed at ensuring that "President Cyril Ramaphosa enjoyed a peaceful Sona as he delivered his last assessment of the nation’s wellbeing or lack thereof ahead of the end of his first tenure as president".
This comes after EFF leader Julius Malema and five fellow members of the EFF were found guilty of contempt of parliament and gross disorderly conduct, resulting in a month-long suspension without pay. They were also ordered to apologise to South Africans, parliament and the president.
On Wednesday, parliament's powers and privileges committee found six EFF members — Malema, EFF's deputy leader Floyd Shivambu, secretary-general Marshall Dlamini, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, Vuyani Pambo and spokesperson Sinawo Tambo — guilty.
The month-long suspension will take effect from February 1 to 29. As Sona is due to take place on February 8, they will not be allowed to attend the event as it occurs during their suspension.
However, the red berets have vowed to not take the sanction lying down and revealed to TimesLIVE Premium that they will challenge the matter in the courts. EFF disruptions have been synonymous with the Sona from the Jacob Zuma era and have been carried through into the Ramaphosa administration.
Party spokesperson Sinawo Tambo said the punishment was vindictive and an attempt to suppress dissent against Cyril Ramaphosa.
"The ANC, which constitutes a 61% majority in the powers and privileges committee, has acted at the behest of its political principal and against its political opponents, to sanction the role of holding the executive responsibility."
Tambo vowed that his party will not accept the "ridiculous pre-determined outcome" and will take the process to the courts.
He also alleged this was a tactic to block the red berets from attending the upcoming Sona.
"It is clear that the intention is to weaken the EFF caucus by removing its senior leadership in the form of the president in the main, in order for Ramaphosa to have a peaceful final Sona after a failed tenure as a president."
The committee was convened last week to deal with the incident where Malema and five other EFF members charged on stage as President Cyril Ramaphosa began his annual speech. They were alleged to have threatened Ramaphosa and had to be forcefully removed from the event.
On Monday, the EFF members were brought before the disciplinary committee in parliament, but they refused to take part after their application for a postponement to 2024 was denied.
Malema also cited the race of the committee initiator hired by parliament, advocate Anton Katz, as a factor leading to them walking out.
"I will not be persecuted by a white man," Malema said.
However, the proceedings continued in their absence, which found the six members of parliament acted dishonourably and sanctioned them.
TimesLIVE
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