PARLIAMENT, February 10 (ANA) – The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Friday instructed its lawyers to approach the courts for a declaratory order that the deployment of armed forces on the parliamentary precinct during Thursday’s chaotic state of the nation address was illegal and unconstitutional.
“I have this morning met our legal team and requested of them to file an application in the Western Cape High Court seeking a declaration that the deployment of the South African National Defence Force members on our precinct for non-ceremonial purposes was unconstitutional and unlawful and, in fact, it was designed to ensure the gradual securitisation and militarisaion of Parliament, and it must be halted for once and for all,” DA leader Mmusi Maimane said during a media briefing in Parliament on Friday.
Maimane said they would also challenge the use of “excessive force” by parliamentary security in removing members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) from the National Assembly chamber.
“Whilst it was not our members who were expelled last night, or were kicked out in the most brutal and [with] the most excessive use of force yesterday, despite that, it should concern every single one of us,” he said.
“I could not be comfortable as leader of the opposition last night as I sat on my bench listening to screaming women in the chamber because of the excessive of force by this Parliaemnt.”
The DA said National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete flouted parliamentary rules when she booted the EFF MPs.
“It was clear that even Baleka Mbete did know how to follow her own procedures in the expulsion of members in the chamber. All of these actions must be declared unconstitutional and unlawful,” he said.
“Our court action is to ensure that the integrity of Parliament is restored and the work of Parliament about the people of South Africa must always be about the people of South Africa.”
Maimane accused the executive of colonising Parliament.
“As an MP, it became quite clear that this place [Parliament] has now become colonised by executive for the simple purpose of protecting a president who has no understanding of the rule of law, let alone the Constitution of South Africa.”
– African News Agency (ANA)
