Court to rule on whether suspended EFF leadership can attend SONA
The Western Cape High Court is expected to make its ruling after the EFF made lengthy submissions on how the suspension of its members was unconstitutional.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party leader Julius Malema protest on stage as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attempts to deliver his 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Cape Town City Hall in Cape Town on February 9, 2023. Picture: ESA ALEXANDER / AFP
CAPE TOWN - Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leaders will know on Thursday morning whether they can attend the State of the Nation Address (SONA) later in the day.
The Western Cape High Court on Tuesday heard an urgent application by the EFF to halt the suspensions of Julius Malema, Floyd Shivambu and four other MPs so they can attend SONA.
The high court is expected to make its ruling after the EFF made lengthy submissions on how the suspension of its members was unconstitutional.
On Tuesday, the Western Cape High Court reserved judgment, with presiding judge Kate Savage saying she would hand down judgment before 10am on Thursday morning.
The EFF told the Western Cape High Court that the suspension of leader, Julius Malema, and five others was "unlawful".
The party said the parliamentary system "vests too much power" in the hands of the majority party.
But chairperson, Ntombovuyo Mente, said they were confident the court would grant them the relief.
"We’re very much confident because as far as we understand this, if you go back as far back as 2015, when we started the pay back the money protest, because Parliament, we must always remember, is the highest stage of protest."
If the court rules against the EFF, it will make it the third high court urgent application in less than a week to be dismissed by the court.