Julius Malema, EFF leader, after the 2019 Sona in Cape Town, 7 February 2019. Picture: Tracy Lee Stark
The Economic Freedom Fighters are fast becoming the party that’s synonymous with showdowns. A recent video, showing an EFF member slapping a security official outside parliament – after the State of the Nation Address – is only the latest of a series of clashes the red berets have been involved in.
Sona slap
In the video, Shivambu walks past what appears to be a security official, then turns back and confronts him, after which other EFF members can be seen pushing, which culminates in one EFF member – allegedly MP Marshall Dlamini – hitting the official.
The video was accompanied by a picture of what appears to be the plainclothes police officer in the video without his glasses on and with blood on his face.
DA vs EFF
The party was also involved in a scuffle in parliament on November 6, between the EFF and the Democratic Alliance. This was during president Cyril Ramaphosa’s question and answer session.
DA chief whip John Steenhuisen criticised the party for stating a rule as a point of order. This resulted in the DA and EFF MPs pushing each other.
Lekota vs Malema
In June 2918, things got abit tense between EFF leader Julius Malema and Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota at a public hearing into the amendment of section 25 of the Constitution. Lekota, who was sitting next to the commander in chief had to get up and move to a different seat, after, what appeared to be a volatile situation.
SONA 2017
In February 2018, the EFF was also roped into another fight at the SONA 2017. Pepper spray and kicks flew with some MPs thrown out during the address.
EFF vs Security
In May 2016, EFF members wrestled with security guards after they refused to let then president Jacob Zuma speak.
(Compiled by Gopolang Chawane)
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