EFF leader thrown out of legislature for second time

ECONOMIC Freedom Fighters' (EFF) leader in the Bhisho legislature Themba Wele was kicked out of the house yesterday for the second time in less than a week.

Wele and his EFF colleague, Siyabulela Peter, were thrown out of the legislature last Friday for wearing their party's trademark red overalls and hard hats, attire deemed inappropriate by the institution's leadership.

This time Wele was kicked out by legislature speaker Noxolo Kiviet for referring to white people in his speech as "amabhulu" or boers.

Wele was making his party's presentation during the debate yesterday on premier Phumulo Masualle's state of the province address.

Wele accused Masualle and the ANC government of failing black and destitute South Africans by not addressing plans for the expropriation of land without compensation .

"You have not mentioned plans to expropriate land for agricultural projects because niyawoyika amabhulu okany nilala nawo ngengubo enye [you are scared of boers or maybe you share the same blanket with them]," Wele charged.

ANC MPL Mxolisi Dimaza raised a point of order, saying the use of the word "boer" was unparliamentary and Wele should retract his statement.

The EFF leader refused and was asked to leave the House. Peter joined him.

Peter later said they would never back down from calling whites "amaBhulu".

"A boer is a boer and there is no other translation. If they are allowed to call us black people, then why are we not allowed to call them as such.

"We stand by that even if it means going to court," Peter said. - Asanda Nini