Plot to assassinate Malema claimed

THE EFF has cited news of a plot to assassinate its leader Julius Malema during the State of the Nation Address as the reason its MPS acted with “the necessary self-defence” during a scuffle outside the National Assembly during which a plain-clothed police was slapped.

In a statement, the EFF said the assassination threat involved “elite members of the police” who were working with right-wing groups to kill Malema in a bid to prevent the expropriation of land without compensation debate from advancing.

“We are told that the Parliamentary Security Service, aka ‘white shirts’, have been infiltrated by these groups and targeted the occasion of the Sona to execute the assassination,” the statement said.

“The hope was that the EFF caucus would be kicked out of the house, using the parliamentary security (white shirts). The anticipated evil acts would then be carried out during this moment of chaos.”

The EFF said when they were blocked from passing through a particular part of the National Assembly, they thought it was the moment the threat would be executed.

“The event of a white security man in black and white, being pushed and slapped in the face, followed him violently pulling the CIC Malema from passing through the corridor doors of the National Assembly.”

Earlier, Parliament condemned the incident which was captured on a cellphone video distributed and has since gone viral.

It said Parliament’s presiding officers were awaiting a report on the matter before taking action.

“An initial report alleges that Warrant Officer Johan Carstens, responsible for cordoning off the exit area for the procession, faced sudden confrontation and was attacked by the EFF MP, resulting in facial injuries,” the statement from Parliament said.

“Officer Carstens has opened an assault case with the police.”

The statement went on to describe the conduct of the MP as “shameful”. | African News Agency (ANA)