The Cape Town Regional Court has recently delivered its verdict, finding EFF Secretary-General Marshall Dlamini guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and malicious damage to property.
This ruling stems from an incident that occurred during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in February 2019, where Dlamini assaulted a member of the parliamentary protection services.
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Despite Dlamini’s claims that he was acting in defence of party leader Julius Malema, the court dismissed this argument. Video footage of the altercation between Dlamini and police officer Johan Carstens circulated on social media shortly after the incident. In the video, Dlamini can be seen confronting Carstens and assaulting him.
The EFF initially justified Dlamini’s actions by alleging that there was a potential assassination attempt on Malema.
According to the party, they had received information suggesting that the parliamentary security services had been infiltrated by individuals planning to harm Malema during the SONA. They believed that the altercation with Carstens was a necessary act of self-defence.
However, the court did not accept this defence and found Dlamini guilty of the charges brought against him. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 31st.
In response to the court’s ruling, Dlamini expressed his refusal to bow down to what he referred to as “arrogant racists and white supremacy.” The incident has sparked debate and condemnation from the parliamentary community, highlighting the importance of maintaining law and order within the legislative process.
