Parliament agreed on Thursday with the ruling by the Western Cape High Court against the Economic Freedom Fighters’s (EFF’s) argument that the suspensions of six MPs infringed on the constitutional rights of the EFF to participate in the State of the Nation Address (SoNA).

The ruling said the EFF’s argument was without merit, as the remaining EFF MPs could still adequately represent them in Parliament.

Last year, EFF members stormed the stage during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s SoNA, in contravention of Parliament’s rules. 

The Speaker then had to suspend proceedings and call on the parliamentary security services to remove Julius Malema, Floyd Shivambu, Marshall Dlamini, Sinawo Tambo, Vuyani Pambo, and Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.

They were suspended, without pay, from Parliamentary activities for February.

Parliament welcomed the Court’s decision to dismiss the application of the six EFF MPs who sought to overturn their temporary suspension as sanctioned by Parliament.

Parliament pointed out that the Court characterised the EFF’s application as “an abuse of process” and described their conduct as “irresponsible”, considering that they were the cause that the matter had to be considered on an urgent basis.

The Court expressed its frustration that the EFF had, after their initial application failed, “repackaged” the same case with “cosmetic surgery” and requested a different relief, in effect to suspend the sanctions against its members.

Parliament said that this caused the court to order punitive costs against the EFF.

“We concur with the Court that when dealing with such matters, it will trench on the separation of powers and the duty which the Court has to pay due and proper respect to Parliament’s competence to regulate its processes and affairs, including the disciplining of its members,” Parliament added.

Ramaphosa will, for an eighth year, present his SoNA, amid substantial scrutiny, as South Africa enters an election year.

Parliament highlighted that it had always been its aim to protect the institution from persistent and continuous disruptions, saying SoNA must take place in a peaceful environment and with respect for the decorum of the House and the people of South Africa.

The EFF said that all its MPs would boycott the SoNA in solidarity with the leaders that were barred from attending, following the High Court ruling. It said it would instead turn its attention to preparations for the launch of its manifesto this weekend.

The EFF rejected with contempt the court ruling, calling it a suppression of democracy and constitutional accountability in South Africa. The party plans to appeal.