Johnathan Paoli
THE Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have said they will appeal the recent ruling against the party’s secretary-general Marshall Dlamini for assault against a police officer during the 2019 State of the Nation Address.
EFF national spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys said on Friday that while the party noted the judgement, they believed it formed part of a political agenda against the red berets.
“The rationale used by the court in its sentencing reaffirms our view that the case in its entirety was vindictive and is part of a broader attempt to provoke and then criminalise the leadership of the EFF,” Mathys said.
She praised the court’s decision to reject the state’s claim of political motivation and that removing Dlamini from his role as a leader would serve no constructive purpose.
Mathys said the party was of the view that there was a predetermined agenda to prevent the EFF leadership from executing its legislative responsibilities at the SONA.
She said the actions of Dlamini were justified as far as the party was convinced leader Julius Malema was facing a threat of attack.
“On the very morning of SONA 2019, police communicated that there was a threat against Julius Malema and this was confirmed on the witness stand by police in court,” Mathys said.
She concluded by saying Dlamini would continue to exercise his responsibilities as a member of parliament and an official of the movement, and continue the work of building the only alternative for economic freedom in the country.
Dlamini was sentenced in the Cape Town Regional Court to 18 months in prison, suspended for five years, for assaulting policeman Johan Carstens in parliament in 2019.
He was also sentenced to a fine of R6000 or three months in prison for malicious damage to property.
Magistrate Nasha Banwari said she had not chosen a custodial sentence due to the fact that she believed Dlamini had appreciated the consequences of his actions.
“I am prepared to accept that, indeed, a lesson has been learned,” Banwari said.
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