Details: How riot police were disguised as parly bouncers at Sona
The EFF were violently ejected from the state of the nation (Sona) address by security in white shirts, who were understood to be parliament bouncers.
Security personnel remove Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP out of Parliament during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on February 09, 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa. There was chaos, violence and insults as EFF members fought back as they were forcefully ejected from the chamber after holding up proceedings for nearly an hour, accusing Zuma of being a ‘constitutional delinquent’. (Photo by Gallo Images / The Times / Esa Alexander)
But the Sunday Times has detailed how these officers were allegedly riot police or public order protection police brought in from around the country to be stationed at Sona specifically in case the EFF disrupted President Jacob Zuma’s speech.
A high-level source has explained how a directive came from the national police headquarters to have these police bused in, in addition to the 441 soldiers deployed and parliament’s own security. The police then changed into the white shirts and black pants to fit in with parliament security.
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The weekly reports the police were stationed inside the Chamber where the Sona took place, while others were in nearby rooms and those wearing riot gear were in underground parking.
“Some police were stationed in specific rooms near the National Assembly. They drank copious amounts of Red Bull for [the] caffeine rush. They were psyching each other verbally and doing warm-up exercises,” a source said.
The presence of police, if true, would be in contravention of a high court order that declared it unconstitutional for police to remove MPs during a sitting.
Parliament spokesperson Manelisi Wolela denied riot police had removed the EFF from the Chamber.
“Only members of the parliamentary protection services entered the Chamber to execute a directive of the presiding officers to assist some MPs to leave the Chamber. Parliament rejects the suggestion or allegation that police had entered the National Assembly to remove MPs.”
Watch video of the riot cops removing Malema and EFF from parliament
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