Police had to use rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse a group of people in Marikana in the North West, who wanted to force their way into the venue where North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo was tabling the State of the Province Address.
This happened shortly after Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members were removed from the sitting. They were demanding that Mahumapelo apologise for the killings that took place in Marikana in 2012.
EFF members of parliament interrupted him, demanding that he should first apologise on behalf of government for the killing of striking mine workers in 2012.
However the Speaker, Suzan Dantjie, did not allow the notion, and they staged a walk out.
EFF leader Betty Daile says both Ramaphosa and Mahumapelo must apologise.
“We raised several issues with the Speaker knowing that the premier in his speech he is not going to address these issues. We are saying Supra and Ramaphosa must apologise to the people of Marikana. We also demanded that his speech before he starts speaking the issue of R30 million in the Department of Health must appear in his speech. We don’t want to listen to a premier if is not addressing real issues of the economy, real issues of the people.”
Outside the venue, members of the public, who mostly were wearing EFF regalia, were singing and demanding entry into the venue.
Police were then forced to use rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse them.
Victor Modiri is an EFF member in Marikana ward 32. He says they were protesting against unfair treatment by the security personnel.
“They don’t allow EFF councillors because of time but they allow ANC councillors to enter this event even though they came late. So this thing is politicised and we don’t like this thing.”
However, finally Premier Mahumapelo continued and finished his speech with no further disruption either inside or outside the legislature.
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