The National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli has sent a strong warning to Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members that if they carry out their plan to disrupt President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, they will find themselves in the streets.
The party is adamant that it will disrupt the address if Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan will remain in his position by Thursday evening.
However, Tsenoli says the rules of the House are clear.
“We can’t allow people in the house to be disruptive. We adapted our rules because of this and there will be no hesitation by presiding officers to carry out that responsibility that in the event that the presiding officers feel that what’s happening is out of order, that they are not even listening to those who ask to talk to them gently and if they choose not to do so, their place is in the streets.”
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says it does not expect anything from the SONA except an announcement that Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan is fired.
Other political parties have however criticised the move saying while the EFF has the right to protest, the party must respect their right to listen to Ramaphosa.
EFF’s national spokesperson Delisile Ngwenya says they don’t need the support of other parties.
“There’s nothing that we expect we want Gordhan fired, we don’t need their support. We are a democratically elected political party.”
Watch video below: EFF plans to disrupt President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Thursday still in motion
