Godrich Gardee replaces Floyd Shivambu as Malema returns for third term as EFF president
Picture: Screenshot.
The Citizen reported earlier on Friday that the EFF had released a statement saying they slapped a plain-clothes policeman who was doing security at Sona as “necessary self-defence” after they caught wind of the planned assassination on the party’s leader, Julius Malema, which was set to take place in parliament during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address on Thursday night.
The statement read: “When Malema and the EFF leadership were unreasonably stopped by these white shirts in parliament, after the house had been adjourned, we all thought this was the moment and reacted with the necessary self-defence. The event of a white security man in black and white, being pushed and clapped in the face, followed him violently pulling Malema from passing through the corridor doors of the national assembly.”
This comes after a video went viral on social media showing an EFF member, believed to be MP Marshall Dlamini, slapping the policeman, since identified as Warrant Officer Johan Carstens.
EFF Statement on the Assassination Threat on the CIC @Julius_S_Malema during the #SONA2019 pic.twitter.com/DZ3SniPZo1
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) February 8, 2019
Twitter, however, was not convinced, and the party has since been roundly roasted on the platform.
Please respect us. https://t.co/6YeRENDNQE
— Ottilia Anna MaSibanda (@MaS1banda) February 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/pierredevos/status/1093840266266583040
We've heard some explanations before, but this one takes the biscuit. The EFF claim that an assassination attempt on Julius Malema caused a fight at Parly. https://t.co/96xh7yFryt
— South African Magazine (@southafricanmag) February 8, 2019
EFF claim assasination attempt. What a load of crock
— Gary Fynn (@FynnGary) February 8, 2019
the EFF have come up with a brilliant way to neutralise an assassination attempt – you slap the perpetrator 🙄 now if they were only around when Carlos The Jackal was active!!
— James Bernstein (@jamesbernstein) February 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/TonyMfariwapiki/status/1093840271215857664
Through slapping a person EFF was able to stop the 'right wing assassination threat' on Malema as EFF justifies it barbaric act!#pure #madness
— Maguire🇿🇦 (@Mcguire_ZA) February 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/OpenNewsSA/status/1093839511673548800
https://twitter.com/sunday_dear/status/1093839612609523712
Mara EFF things we are all fools watseba I mean after #SONA2019 the so called CIC was busy doing interviews everywhere now jiki jiki there was an ‘assassination plot’ 😂🤣😅😁. They’re jokers in waiting 😅🤣
— Rapitsi (@Rapitsi_R) February 8, 2019
CIC's life was in danger. But all thank to that warm klaap blekseming that man, an attempted assassination was stopped. OKSALAYO SO VOTA #EFF, OKSALAYO SO CHESA MPAMA!!!🤣🤣🤣
— Top G 🇿🇦 (@Bra_Dezz) February 8, 2019
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣So they defend assassination with a slap?? i wonder who writes this things for EFF, even the best script writers cant come up with this things wow pic.twitter.com/0lpwfHNMiy
— MR DICK (@kabelodick) February 8, 2019
🤣 how do they dream these thing up? Was this reported to SAPS prior to Sona? #EFF
EFF claims their MP slapped man due to 'right wing assassination threat' on Malema via @News24 https://t.co/Gm0j6BBW8U— HB (@Hugobez7) February 8, 2019
Ah it all becomes clearer. The #sanssouci school teacher was also under an assassination attack & merely invoked standard #EFF defense strategy.
— Peter Pystoff (@forpetersake) February 8, 2019
Parliament said in a statement on Friday that its presiding officers condemned the alleged assault.
The statement from parliament said: “An initial report alleges that Warrant Officer Johan Carstens, responsible for cordoning off the exit area for the procession, faced sudden confrontation and was attacked by the EFF MP, resulting in facial injuries.
“Officer Carstens has opened an assault case with the police.”
WATCH: EFF member hits white plainclothes cop at Sona after confrontation with Shivambu
The statement went on to describe the conduct of the MP as “shameful”, while at the same time confirming parliament was probing the matter.
“The presiding officers will await a full report on the matter in order to determine an appropriate course of action.”
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