EFF representatives refused entry to legislature
ECONOMIC Freedom Fighters MPLs were yesterday barred from entering the Gauteng provincial legislature as the ANC government grapples to contain the erratic behaviour of Julius Malema's lieutenants in some provinces.
There was a heavy police presence at the legislature following a chaotic clash between EFF MPLs and police officers the previous day. EFF members resorted to staging a protest outside the legislature, singing songs chastising those inside.
They were barred from repeating the anarchic scenes of Tuesday, when they brought proceedings in the legislature to a grinding halt, refusing to leave after being ordered to do so for wearing what was deemed to be "inappropriate attire".
The seven EFF MPLs were dressed in red overalls and domestic-worker uniforms for the debate on premier David Makhura's state of the province address. Legislature speaker Ntombi Mekgwe ordered them to leave, and when they refused police forcefully removed them.
Some of the EFF members were thereafter admitted to hospital, and they have since indicated they would open cases of assault with police.
Despite Mekgwe's ruling, the "Fighters" returned to the legislature in the same attire yesterday.
However, the police's tactical response team made sure they did not enter the premises.
The secretary of the legislature, Peter Skosana, said EFF MPLs would be barred if they turned up in their overalls.
EFF Gauteng leader Dali Mpofu told a small crowd of the party's supporters they should not back down. "We cannot have a situation where we are told that workers' clothes are inappropriate when our mothers have been wearing these clothes and working in them day and night, and now we are saying that they are inferior.
"When you are wearing a suit and tie, it doesn't mean that you have a brain." Mpofu said EFF members would fight to the "bitter end" to be allowed to wear overalls during legislature sittings.
Mpofu held talks with Mekgwe yesterday to discuss Tuesday's events.
He said his party would today communicate its next course of action on the matter. - Azizzar Mosupi
