The Cape Town Regional Court has recently reached a verdict in the case involving Marshall Dlamini, the Secretary-General of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). Dlamini has been found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and malicious property damage.
These charges stem 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.
Despite Dlamini’s claim that he was acting in defence of EFF leader Julius Malema, the court dismissed this argument and found him guilty of the charges. Dlamini is now awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for the 31st of May.
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Video footage of the altercation between Dlamini and police officer Johan Carstens quickly circulated on social media following the SONA.
The video shows Dlamini and other EFF members leaving parliament when he suddenly turns around and confronts Carstens. Dlamini can be seen reaching towards Carstens and assaulting him.
In response to the incident, the EFF released a statement claiming that the altercation was an act of “necessary self-defence.”
According to the party, they had received information about a possible assassination attempt on Julius Malema and believed that the parliamentary security services were involved.
The EFF alleged that these security services planned to use the chaos during the SONA to carry out the assassination.
The party further stated that when Malema and the EFF leadership were prevented from passing through the corridors of the National Assembly by the security officers, they reacted with what they deemed necessary self-defence.
They claimed that a security officer had pushed and clapped Marshall Dlamini in the face, leading to a violent response. Dlamini concluded his statement by expressing his refusal to submit to what he referred to as “arrogant racists and white supremacy.”
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