MPL injured in scuffle as EFF disrupts premier’s address

Premier Oscar Mabuyane’s state of the province address got off to a bumpy start at the Christian Centre in Abbotsford, East London, on Thursday when a fight broke out between EFF MPLS and the Eastern Cape legislature’s security detail.

EFF MPLS had initially raised their hands, moments before Mabuyane was to begin with his address, to put forward a motion about the plight of tertiary students who have been protesting in East London.

The students from the University of Fort Hare, Walter Sisulu University and Buffalo City TVET College have been complaining about academic exclusion due to debt and issues of accommodation, among other issues.

Some of the students protested outside the venue.

Speaker Helen Sauls-august ordered EFF MPLS to leave the venue, saying they were violating the rules of the sitting.

But the members refused. A scuffle broke out, resulting in an exchange of blows.

Bottles of still water were thrown inside the venue, with guests complaining of being hit.

EFF MPLS eventually left the venue, but not without a fight — which resulted in MPL Zoleka Qotoyi being hit on the head with an object.

The stand-off lasted for about 15 minutes before calm was restored.

EFF provincial chair Zilindile Vena said he was disappointed by the conduct of Sauls-august.

He said the party was planning to take action against the speaker and lay criminal complaints against officials who allegedly assaulted Qotoyi.

The Dispatch understands that Qotoyi went to see a doctor after the commotion.

She had not yet pressed charges for the alleged assault by the time of publication.

“The officials and guards manhandled our female colleagues,” said Vena. “The speaker told the sitting that no-one was allowed to disrupt the premier. We raised our hands long before the premier could take to the podium.

“As they were hitting and pushing us out, we were trying to protect our female colleagues.”

He accused Mabuyane’s administration of being “useless”.

“That was a useless speech. “They have not tried to intervene in the plight of students who are struggling to get placement at tertiary institutions,” Vena said.

Sauls-august said she was disappointed by the conduct of the EFF MPLS.

Her spokesperson, Lwandile Sicwetsha, said: “The speaker condemns the behaviour of members of the provincial legislature who approached the podium to disrupt the premier from delivering the state of the province address [on Thursday].

“The disruption posed a threat to the premier.

“Section 116 of the constitution empowers a legislature to make rules and orders concerning its business.

“The Standing Rules of the Legislature were drafted in line with the above section and consulted with all parties represented at the legislature, including the EFF.

“Rule 17(5) specifically provides that ‘a member may not interrupt the premier while speaking during the annual state of the province address by calling attention to a point of order or raising a question of privilege or by requesting a permission to put a question to the premier’.”

ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi also condemned the conduct of the EFF MPLS.

“EFF MPLS have no respect and therefore deserve no respect from other MPLS,” Ngcukayitobi said.