SONA 2020: EFF to face investigation after bottle-throwing incident

The SONA 2020 hangover is a fierce one on Friday morning. Feeling much like a night we’d rather forget, South Africa has woken up with a few painful flashbacks to the utter chaos that engulfed Parliament during the president’s speech. The EFF’s 97-minute disruption plan may come back to bite them, though.

The Red Berets protested and interrupted for the best part of an hour, preventing Cyril Ramaphosa from even beginning his speech. However, their conduct descended into unruly behaviour, eventually forcing the suspension of proceedings – an unprecedented move for this type of event.

SONA 2020: EFF to face Parliamentary review

Speaker Thandi Modise didn’t kick the EFF out of Parliament. The party eventually left on their own accord. She explained that it is important to express patience in her role, and that points of order must be considered and assumed to be genuine. Once Julius Malema and his colleagues left the house, however, Modise backed plans to hold a Parliamentary inquiry into their disruptive shenanigans:

“We agree with all the parties who are saying that the matters are grave and that the conduct of all the members who’ve left this House must be referred to the Powers and Privileges Committee. We need to see fines for misconduct, ones that will touch them in their pockets”.

Thandi Modise

DA reaction to SONA 2020 chaos

As you’d expect, the EFF got both barrels from the exasperated top brass of the DA. John Steenhuisen was furious with the antics he’d witnessed, and slammed one MP in red overalls for throwing their water bottle. His motion to refer the party for an investigation gained universal backing from others in the house.

DA interim leader John Steenhuisen asks Modise to refer EFF "contempt", including throwing water bottle, to Powers and Privileges committee – this backed by ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina#SONA2020

— Gaye Davis (@Gaye_Davis) February 13, 2020

And, for good measure, Natasha Mazzone let rip while Parliament was suspended:

“Tonight’s antics of the EFF to disrupt the State of the Nation Address, on a series of spurious points, shows the childishness and immaturity of the party. At a time in our nation when urgent solutions are needed to pressing crises in our country, the EFF has chosen to prevent the president confronting these.”

“The EFF must adide the rules of Parliament, and the EFF must allow the President to speak. Every member in the House, and every south African has the right to hear the State of the Nation Address”

Natasha Mazzone