Did the EFF pose as Parliament’s protection services? 

19 May 2016

The DA has received reports that two of the so called white shirts in the National Assembly (NA) during this week’s oral questions to the President session were in fact Julius Malema’s personal bodyguards posing as members of parliamentary protection services. Further, that Parliament is currently investigating these claims and currently formulating charges against the relevant culprits.

Close examination of video footage of Tuesday’s sitting shows what appears to be a man in a white shirt rush to Malema’s side during the EFF’s ejection from the NA and fight off other members of Parliament’s protection services, in an effort to protect him.

If these reports are to be believed, and the aforementioned footage seems to support their claim, it is clear that the EFF went into Tuesday’s sitting with an explicit agenda to disrupt the day’s programme and “meet violence with violence” as the EFF leader stated earlier this week. 

The EFF's devious plot and destruction of parliamentary infrastructure demonstrated that they are clearly not a party that can be trusted to uphold the rule of law and take country forward, and deserve South Africa’s condemnation.

We will write to the Speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete, requesting details of Parliament's investigation, and that the outcome be made public. It is important that we get to truth of this matter to ensure that any guilty culprits will be held accountable for their actions and possible violation(s) of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament Act.

It is deeply disturbing that parliamentary protection services, which are meant to be highly- trained former SAPS members, can be infiltrated by anyone with a white shirt and gym membership. 

Distinguishing white shirts during the in-House scuffles that have come to characterise the fifth Parliament is incredibly difficult, and them not having name badges makes holding them accountable for excessive force and other improprieties even more difficult.

Repeatedly I have requested that the white shirts be provided with a distinct uniform and ID badges. However both the Speaker of Parliament and its Secretary have ignored my requests. 

Perhaps now that their squad of goons may have been infiltrated with relative ease they will take my requests more seriously.

Issued by John Steenhuisen, Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance, 19 May 2016