EFF statement on the nonsensical hearings by the Powers and Privileges Committee against EFF members of parliament

20 November 2023

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemns and characterises as a farce, the ongoing proceedings by the Parliament of South Africa's Powers and Privileges Committee, which is currently in the process of conducting hearings against six (6) EFF Members of Parliament, for holding Cyril Ramaphosa accountable at the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on the 9th of February 2023.

The EFF has, this morning, withdrawn from what can only be described as a kangaroo court, whose sole purpose is to suppress dissent in Parliament, and reinforce the protection of Cyril Ramaphosa despite his many failures as a President.

On the 20th of November 2023 (Today), the Powers and Privileges Committee commenced its hearings against the Commander in Chief and President of the EFF, Julius Malema, the Deputy President Floyd Shivambu, the Secretary General Marshall Dlamini, Commissars Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, Vuyani Pambo and Sinawo Thambo, with the charges of disrupting Parliament at SONA and storming the stage of Parliament in a "threatening" manner towards Ramaphosa, on the 9th of February 2023.

The proceedings began with arrogance by the DA-confidant and renowned legal representative Anton Katz, who illegitimately assumed the role of guiding the proceedings. The legal representation of the EFF in the form of Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi then made an application for postponement of proceedings, on the basis that Parliament had in the first instance waited for ten (10) months to initiate the hearings, giving themselves 10 months to prepare their case, yet had only given the charged Members of Parliament ten (10) days to prepare their defence, after having served the Members with notices of the hearings.

The second argument made by Advocate Ngcukaitobi was the fact that the Powers and Privileges Committee is constituted by sixty-one percent (61%) of members of the ruling party the African National Congress (ANC), a party that Cyril Ramaphosa who allegedly was under threat, belongs to.

The logical argument therefore made is that there is a clear bias, whether it be factual or by perception, that the matter is being heard by Members of Parliament who would have a vested and biased interest in the outcome, because they are presiding over a matter that involves their political principal and their political opponents.

The subsequent request, based on this argument by the EFF through its legal representation, was that an independent individual/s, in the form of a Judge be appointed to hear the matter and resolve on an outcome free from the tainting of bias and ulterior political motives.

Additionally, Advocate Ngcukaitobi submitted that the Members through their legal representation, intended to subpoena both the Speaker of Parliament and the President of the Republic of South Africa to determine whether they indeed felt threatened by the peaceful protest of the EFF, as a feeling of threat is subjective and cannot be ascertained by onlookers.

The Powers and Privileges Committee then proceeded to convene separately as Members of the Committee, to consider the arguments by the legal representation of the Members of Parliament. The Chairperson of the Committee then returned to give a ruling declining the request for a postponement, without providing any rationale grounds.

It has become palpably clear to the EFF that the hearings by the Powers and Privileges Committee have a pre-determined outcome, in that a postponement in the first instance was irrationally denied, and the grounds for a request for postponement were not even sufficiently dismissed or considered.

The use of DA-lawyer Anton Katz as the initiator and de facto prosecutor of the EFF Members of Parliament in the matter, reveals a collusion between the DA and the ANC to deny millions of South Africans their ability to hold the Executive accountable, by suppressing dissent of the public representatives they elected.

The case against the Members of Parliament deployed by the EFF is yet another attempt at suppressing dissent and intimidation of the opposition, in defence of Cyril Ramaphosa. It has always been clear that the Members of Parliament representing the EFF held a peaceful protest, raising placards to outline the high levels of corruption in particulate in relation to Phala Phala Farm, and the various socio-economic issues confronting South Africa.

The EFF will not participate in this kangaroo court and will approach the courts of South Africa to interdict the sham proceedings of the Powers and Privileges Committee, which acts as nothing but a compromised weapon in defence of Ramaphosa.

Issued by Sinawo Thambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 20 November 2023