Steenhuisen is the official leader of the opposition, right?

John Steenhuisen, the interim DA leader and the official leader of the opposition, will this week lay criminal charges against the police officers who prevented him entering Parliament ahead of the budget speech.

It is understood that many other opposition MPs also endured this treatment at the hands of the police.

A visibly upset Steenhuisen only entered the National Assembly a few minutes after Finance Minister Tito Mboweni had already started his speech.

After the speech, Steenhuisen confronted three senior police officials about the incident, one of whom then prevented a journalist from filming the interaction, claiming that the journalist was not “authorised” to do so.

According to Natasha Mazzone, DA chief whip, police officials initially stopped Steenhuisen and demanded to see his ID, even though he had his parliamentary identification and access card with him.

Mazzone asked Thandi Modise, the Speaker, to investigate the incident, because it is a contravention of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament Act.

The act provides that it is a criminal offence to obstruct any MP from attending a sitting of the National Assembly or of a portfolio committee.

EFF Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, and Mazzone, were both critical of the heavy police presence in Parliament.

When MPs left the National Assembly, Steenhuisen confronted two police brigadiers and a general about the issue.

Jan Gerber, a News24 journalist, was busy taking a cell phone video of this interaction when one brigadier then confronted him, saying he should turn his phone off because he was not “authorised” to make a video of the discussion.

On the video, the brigadier in question is seen pushing his phone away to prevent the recording.

According to the police’s standing order 156, no police official may prevent a member of the media “taking photographs or making visual recordings”.

Steenhuisen told News24 that he would lay a charge unless the police apologised.

Sunday Times parliamentary correspondent, Andisiwe Makinana, reported on Twitter that a police general apparently told MPs that the “powers and privileges Act does not apply to me”.

“I’m a general and what I say goes,” the general reportedly said.

In response thereto, Steenhuisen tweeted: “I’m laying criminal charges, lets see how it applies to the good general.”

Azola Mboniswa, Steenhuisen’s spokesperson, yesterday told Rapport this was to take place this week.

Modise informed Mazzone that she would investigate the police’s conduct.

Although ANC MPs jeered Mazzone when she asked the Speaker to investigate, City Press’ sister publication, Rapport, has learnt that various ANC MPs have also complained to the Speaker about the police’s conduct on Thursday night.

The police did not respond to requests for comment.

Get in touch  City Press

+27 11 713 9001 news@citypress.co.za Media Park, 69 Kingsway Road, Auckland Park

Rise above the clutter | Choose your news | City Press in your inbox

City Press is an agenda-setting South African news brand that publishes across platforms. Its flagship print edition is distributed on a Sunday.