South Africa opposition leaders disrupted the president’s speech last year. They’re barred this time

GERALD IMRAY

A South African court on Tuesday upheld a ban on leaders of a boisterous opposition party from attending a speech this week by President Cyril Ramaphosa opening the new parliamentary session after they were sanctioned for disrupting the event a year ago.

The leader, deputy leader and four other officials with the Economic Freedom Fighters — the third biggest party in Parliament — will not be allowed at Thursday’s State of the Nation Address.

The six lawmakers were suspended from Parliament from Feb. 1 to Feb. 29. They were among a group of EFF members ordered out of the room by the speaker for interrupting Ramaphosa’s 2023 speech. But instead of leaving, the group, led by EFF president Julius Malema, jumped onto the stage and held up signs calling for Ramaphosa to step down before security forced them out.

EFF lawmakers have interrupted parliamentary sittings and scuffled with