Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has accused the judiciary of thinking that it is untouchable, saying judges must stop thinking that they are the law. He made the statement during the debate on the State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Tuesday night.
Malema says, “There is nothing special that gives them power to think that they can amend the constitution and take the rights of people, worse they contradict their own judgements because they think they are untouchable. They must know that if they continue to think that they are the law and not interpreters of the law, then the people will rise against such few judges who have made themselves the law and are conspiring with politicians to deal with opponents of the current establishment.”
He also criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership, saying under him the economy is shrinking and the energy plan is a disaster.
Acting Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, defended the judiciary and requested Malema to stay out of the African National Congress’ (ANC) internal affairs.
Ntshavheni suggested that there might be something that Malema is afraid of.
“We all know that when you start to make noise against the President and the judiciary to an extent that you stop short of calling for an uprising against the judiciary, we wonder what it is that you are afraid of. You say you are not interested in the factional battles of the ANC but you say you want to remove Ramaphosa from the ANC why don’t you let us sort our challenges?” asked Minister Ntshavheni.
CIC SONA Response https://t.co/w3LOunKOcX
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) February 16, 2021
Debate on the 2021 State of the Nation Address:
ANC calls for respect for the Constitution
Meanwhile, the ANC in Parliament called upon all the people of South Africa to respect the constitution.
The party’s Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina’s call comes after former president Jacob Zuma ignored a Constitutional Court ruling that he should appear before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of State Capture.
ANC in parliament calls upon all South Africans to respect the constitution:
