The National Assembly (NA) has given its approval for Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and five of his fellow party members to be suspended for one month without pay.

They were found guilty of contempt of Parliament after they stormed the stage during President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address (SONA) in February.

The African National Congress (ANC) seemed to have moved away from its position for the suspension to take effect from 1 March.

The suspension from 1 February until 29 February 2024 means the six EFF MPs will not be able to attend the SONA next year.

On Tuesday, during a late-night chaotic House sitting, the NA adopted the Powers and Privileges Committee report giving effect to the sanctions, which were compiled after an investigation into the affected MPs.

All parties, with the exception of the EFF, voted in favour of the report. A final count recorded that 264 MPs voted in favour and 30 voted against the adoption of the report. There were no abstentions.

The six members include Malema, deputy leader Floyd Shivambu, secretary-general Marshall Dlamini, and senior members Vuyani Pambo, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Sinawo Thambo.

The report also recommended that the six members apologise to Ramaphosa and the House.

ANC deputy chief whip Doris Dlakude moved that the report be adopted as is.

Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Annelie Lotriet said the Power and Privileges Act is quite clear on the way forward when an obstruction or disturbance occurs.

She said:

The committee found the six EFF members guilty. How many SONAs have been disrupted by the EFF since 2014. It is a regular occurrence ... the rights of other MPs are being trampled on all because one party believes that they can do what they want.

EFF MP Veronica Menta said the party had approached the court for the matter to be heard on an urgent basis.

"It was a peaceful protest. We protest without committing violence. It is called peaceful protests because we don't engage in violent acts. They simply expressed a message. The highest political platform is where we can [show] our disapproval. The police with their guns is the violence we should be talking about," she said.

She said they will meet Parliament in court.

"You are shielding thieves which have not been held accountable. Every SONA will be disrupted for as long ANC leaders are not held accountable," she said.

However, on Monday, the EFF withdrew a court application it lodged to challenge the recommended suspension.

The party's lawyers told the Western Cape High Court that it had decided to withdraw its application after reaching an agreement with Parliament's legal representatives.

The withdrawal of the case was merely administrative due to the National Assembly deciding the fate of the six EFF MPs.

GOOD MP Brett Herron said the EFF's antics have become an expected feature while Freedom Front Plus MP Pieter Groenewald said Malema should ensure that his members behave.

He joked:

You have a Mickey Mouse commander-in-chief.

Meanwhile, four other EFF MPs are expected in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday where they are challenging a different disciplinary matter arising from an event on 30 August 2022.