Cops manhandled, assaulted members: EFF

EFF Members of Parliament arriving for President Jacob Zuma's SONA. Photo: @ParliamentofRSA

EFF Members of Parliament arriving for President Jacob Zuma's SONA. Photo: @ParliamentofRSA

Published Jul 1, 2014

Share

Johannesburg - Gauteng police assaulted two members of the EFF when they were forcefully removed from the provincial legislature chamber for their clothes on Tuesday, the party claimed.

Speaker Ntombi Mekgwe asked Economic Freedom Fighters MPL to leave the House because of the “inappropriate attire” they wore for the sitting.

“While we were waiting for discussions to start, the speaker noted there were members in the house who were inappropriately dressed.

“While (we) were waiting to define what appropriate attire was for the legislature, police came to forcefully remove our members,” EFF Gauteng spokeswoman Omphile Maotwe said.

Police allegedly “manhandled” two of the party's members.

“Our leader Benjamin Disolwane was manhandled and handcuffed incorrectly by the police, as a result he was injured and is waiting for the ambulance,” Maotwe said.

Another member Mgcini Faku was taken to a doctor for “urgent” medical attention.

Gauteng police spokesman Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said he would respond to the allegations only once a case had been opened.

The Times Live reported that Mekgwe said the EFF's red overalls were deemed inappropriate because they had the word “Asijiki” (we will not retract), which she said was party insignia, inscribed on the back.

According to the report the African National Congress and Democratic Alliance members of the provincial legislature left the council chambers but the EFF remained seated, adamant they would not leave.

Television monitors showing what was happening in the chambers were switched off and the public and media galleries were emptied.

Maotwe said they were awaiting word from the legislature as to when the sitting would resume.

Sapa

Related Topics: