EFF member Marshall Dlamini receives suspended sentence for assault in parliament

EFF General Secretary Marshall Dlamini (in black) leaves court after the verdict was announced. (Jenni Evans/News24)

EFF Secretary General Marshall Dlamini was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for five years, by the Cape Town Regional Court for attacking police officer Johan Carstens in Parliament in 2019.

Dlamini was also fined R6,000 or sentenced to three months in prison for malicious damage to property.

“I am prepared to accept that a lesson has indeed been learned,” Judge Nasha Banwari said in her statement before the verdict on the reasons why she had not opted for a prison sentence.

Dlamini was charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and criminal damage following an incident following the 2019 State of the Nation Address.

Banwari found him guilty of assaulting Carstens and breaking his glasses during the incident in the foyer of the National Assembly on February 7, 2019.

In his defence, Dlamini claimed he believed EFF leader Julius Malema would be attacked.

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