South Africa’s opposition figure, Julius Malema, along with five fellow members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, faced a significant penalty on Wednesday.
The parliament’s powers and privileges committee, citing contempt of parliament, handed down a one-month suspension without pay for their disruptive actions during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation address in February.
The disturbance led to the temporary suspension of proceedings as security escorted Malema and the other MPs out of the hall.
In response, the committee stressed that each member must personally apologize in the House to the president, the speaker, and the people of South Africa.
Their disruptive actions were deemed to have cast the country in a negative light.
The suspension will be in effect throughout the entire month of February next year.
Consequently, Malema and the other five MPs will be barred from attending the next State of the Nation address by the president scheduled for that month.
Earlier in the process, on Monday, the EFF MPs opted out of participating in the hearings after their request for a postponement was denied by the committee.
Malema voiced his objection to advocating Anton Katz’s appointment as the initiator in the hearing, stating, “I will not be persecuted by a white man.”
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South African Parliament Suspends Malema And EFF MPs Suspended For A Month, South African Parliament Suspends Malema And EFF MPs Suspended For A Month