EFF judgment to be delivered next week

Cape Town - The Western Cape High Court will deliver judgment next week on the EFF's quest for an urgent interdict against sanctions implemented by Parliament against 20 of its MPs.

The matter came before the court on Friday, but was adjourned after Judge Dennis Davis had heard arguments from Dumisa Ntsebeza, for the Economic Freedom Fighters, and Willie Duminy, for Parliament.

"This is obviously urgent, and I will give judgment on Tuesday," Davis told the parties.

The EFF is seeking relief from the findings of a report by Parliament's powers and privileges committee, which resulted in 20 of its MPs being found guilty of contempt of Parliament.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Duminy said the interdict sought by the EFF contained orders that could only be decided by the Constitutional Court.

It remained to be seen whether Davis would rule on some aspects, or would refer the whole matter to the Constitutional Court.

The EFF has 25 MPs in Parliament.

Following the National Assembly's adoption of the committee's report, six EFF MPs were suspended for 30 days without pay, six for 14 days without pay, and eight were ordered to apologise to the House and fined 14 days' salary.

The matter originated with the "pay back the money" incident in the National Assembly on August 21 this year, when EFF MPs chanted and banged on their desks, disrupting President Jacob Zuma's replies to questions.

Parliament said in a statement it would wait until Tuesday to comment and would oppose whatever relief the EFF sought.