By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) secretary-general Marshall Dlamini has been found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and malicious damage to property.
This comes after he assaulted a member of the Parliamentary Protection Services during the State of the Nation Address (Sona) in February 2019.
Delivering a judgment in the Cape Town Regional Court, Magistrate Nasha Banwari said Dlamini’s claim that he was merely protecting EFF leader Julius Malema from a possible assassination threat was not acceptable.
Banwari found Dlamini guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
In his defence, Dlamini told the court that the EFF had received a tip-off that there would be an attempt to assassinate their leader.
He unleashed a jaw-dropping slap on warrant officer Johan Carstens in the face which broke his eyeglasses. He suffered facial injuries from the incident and opened a case against the EFF MP.
Dlamini mentioned at the time said he was dealing with a “racist clown” when the jaw-dropping slap was unleashed.
Video footage of a scuffle between Dlamini and Carstens was shared on social media shortly after the Sona.
In it, Dlamini could be seen walking out of parliament with EFF members when he makes a U-turn and confronts Carstens.
Dlamini could then be seen reaching towards Carstens and assaulting him.
Parliament at the time had expressed concern and dissapointment over the incident. Dlamini is due to be sentenced on 31 May.