Johannesburg - The Gauteng EFF looks set to approach the high court to force the authorities to allow them back into the Gauteng legislature.
This followed the party’s removal for “unruly behaviour” on Tuesday.
A meeting between senior Gauteng EFF leaders led by advocate Dali Mpofu and legislature Speaker Ntombi Mekgwe deadlocked on Wednesday.
Mpofu was trying to broker a deal allowing EFF back into the legislature in their red overalls, hard hats and domestic worker uniforms.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura was present at the meeting.
Gauteng EFF spokeswoman Omphile Maotwe said her party would decide on their plan of action on Thursday.
Maotwe did not rule out the possibility of approaching the South Gauteng High Court in Joburg for an interdict against Mekgwe.
On Tuesday, the SAPS elite unit, the Tactical Response Team, had to be called to evict EFF members who did not heed Mekgwe’s call to dress appropriately in the House.
On Wednesday, the unit’s members, also popularly known as amaBerete, returned to the legislature to ensure that no EFF members were allowed into the chambers in their party regalia.
They blocked every entrance to the building.
Proceedings – which included Makhura’s response to opposition parties’ criticism of his State of the Province address – took place without the EFF.
Mekgwe said the EFF would not have an opportunity to react to Makhura’s address after absenting themselves from proceedings on Wednesday.
The DA and ANC were unanimous in their condemnation of the EFF’s behaviour. The media also came under attack for its coverage of the drama, which turned violent.
Slamming the media, DA spokesman on finance Mike Moriarty said: “We had the awful display of disrespect for the rule of law.
The EFF wanted the images of brutality and that’s what they got. Regretfully, the story of yesterday is… about an alleged broken arm and asthmatic trauma.”
ANC chief whip Brian Hlongwa likened the EFF members’ behaviour to Grade R pupils.
The Star