By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has opened a case of assault and sexual assault against National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
This after the President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech in the National Assembly chambers descended into chaos on Thursday, when EFF members continuously heckled Ramaphosa and other ANC MPs.
Moments after Ramaphosa started his speech on Friday morning, an EFF MP raised a point of order, insisting that the national Assembly could not be addressed by Ramaphosa.
After speaker Mapisa-Nqakula warned the EFF she would not allow the sitting to be disrupted, EFF MP Sinawo Tambo and Naledi Chirwa were removed.
Scuffles then broke out between the Red Berets and security officials, with footage showing EFF MPS screaming, pushing and throwing bottles of water.
According to the party, a woman was assaulted physically and sexually.
“EFF MPs who were subjected to Mapisa-Nqakula’s tyranny in service of Ramaphosa, have opened a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and sexual assault against Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and the so-called Parliament Protection Services. The case has been opened at the Cape Town Central Police Station,” said the party in a statement.
“We call on the police to speedily act on the cases we have opened because they have always acted when cases are opened against EFF members whilst they did nothing when we opened the cases of abuse and assault against the parliamentary protection services during president Jacob Zuma’s time.”
The party said it would pursue private prosecution against speaker and the parliament protection services if nothing is done about the cases it has opened.