Daily Sun (May 22 2014) - THEY may not have been allowed to wear their party's official badges. But there was no mistaking the bright red overalls and dresses that appeared for the first time on the floor of the South African parliament. As expected, the EFF stole the show with their red overalls, makarapas and red berets.
Their clothes were not branded with their party's logo as Parliament doesn't allow it. EFF women members were dressed as tea ladies while their male counterparts were dressed as mining and construction workers.
When the time came to elect the Speaker of Parliament, Julius Malema and his parliamentarians didn't vote. While members lined up to cast their ballots, all 25 MPs from the EFF remained seated.
The ANC nominated its chairwoman Baleka Mbete, who would be returning to the position after serving between 2004 and 2008. The voting took place after it was forced by the DA's nomination of former Eastern Cape premier Nosimo Balindlela.
When Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng swore in Malema and the other EFF MPs, there were ululations from the public gallery. The DA's Mmusi Maimane received cheers from his party's benches and the public gallery. By late afternoon, Mbete had been elected as Speaker and Jacob Zuma as President.
- Meanwhile, red overalls could also be spotted as six EFF representatives were sworn in with members of other parties in the North West legislature sitting in Mahikeng.
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