{{short description|Member of Parliament of South Africa}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | name = Nazier Paulsen | native_name = | native_name_lang = | honorific_suffix = MP | alt = | caption = | office1 = Member of the National Assembly | term_start1 = 20 May 2015 | term_end1 = 28 May 2024 | successor1 = | office2 = Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament | term_start2 = 21 May 2014 | term_end2 = May 2015 | predecessor2 = | successor2 = | office3 = Member of the National Assembly | term_start3 = 28 August 2024 | predecessor3 = | successor3 = | office4 = | predecessor4 = | successor4 = | birth_name = Mogamad Nazier Paulsen | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | citizenship = | party = Economic Freedom Fighters | spouse = Aishah Cassiem | partner = <!--For those with a domestic partner and not married--> | relations = | children = | education = | alma_mater = University of Cape Town | occupation = | profession = | known_for = | committees = | portfolio = | awards = | website = }} '''Mogamad Nazier Paulsen''' is South African politician currently serving as a Member of the National Assembly for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). Prior to serving parliament, he served as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament.<ref name="citizen">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-05-08 |title=EFF MP allegedly can't wait to 'moer' the BLF in parliament |url=https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/eff-mp-allegedly-cant-wait-to-moer-the-blf-in-parliament/ |access-date=2025-10-19 |website=The Citizen |language=en}}</ref>
==Early life and career== Nazier Paulsen and his family had previously been part of the anti-apartheid movement. Paulsen was a member of the United Democratic Front.<ref>[https://www.pa.org.za/blog/mr-nazier-paulsen-eff Mr Nazier Paulsen (EFF)], ''People's Assembly'', 15 January 2018. Retrieved on 16 August 2019.</ref> He obtained a BCom Honours degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Distributed Systems from the University of Cape Town. He was previously an Information and Technology lecturer at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Paulsen also served as the chairperson of the Mitchells Plain Community Development Corporation and the chairperson of the South African Progressive Civic Organisation (SAPCO).<ref name="nazier-paulsen">{{Cite web |title=Nazier Paulsen and Hlayiseka Chewane sworn in as MPs - EFF - POLITICS {{!}} Politicsweb |url=https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/nazier-paulsen-and-hlayiseka-chewane-sworn-in-as-m |access-date=2025-10-19 |website=www.politicsweb.co.za |language=en}}</ref>
Paulsen joined the Economic Freedom Fighters in 2013. He was the party's Western Cape Premier candidate for the 2014 general elections. The EFF won one seat in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. Paulsen filled the seat on 21 May 2014.<ref>Felix, Jason. [https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/eff-names-w-cape-candidates-1665839 EFF names W Cape candidates], Cape Town, ''IOL'', 25 March 2014. Retrieved on 16 August 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/eff-leader-to-give-rivals-sleepless-nights-in-legislature-1685674 EFF leader to give rivals ‘sleepless nights’ in legislature], ''IOL'', 9 May 2014. Retrieved on 16 August 2019.</ref>
In May 2015, the EFF redeployed him to the National Assembly of South Africa. Bernard Joseph succeeded him as the EFF's sole representative in the Provincial Parliament. He won a second term as a Member of Parliament in May 2019.<ref name="nazier-paulsen" /><ref>Makhafola, Gertrude. [https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/new-eff-mps-sworn-in-1867303 New EFF MPs sworn in], Cape Town, ''IOL'', 3 June 2015. Retrieved on 16 August 2019.</ref><ref>Ntsabo, Mihlali. [https://ewn.co.za/2019/05/22/new-eff-mps-sworn-in New EFF MPs sworn in], ''EWN'', 22 May 2019. Retrieved on 16 August 2019.</ref>
Paulsen was not ranked high enough on the EFF national list to be returned to the National Assembly after the 2024 general election.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NPE 2024 National Candidate List |url=https://www.elections.org.za/pw/Documents/NPE2024%20National.pdf |access-date=12 June 2024 |website=Electoral Commission of South Africa}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The 400 MPs elected to the National Assembly - IEC - DOCUMENTS {{!}} Politicsweb |url=https://www.politicsweb.co.za/documents/the-400-mps-elected-to-the-national-assembly--iec |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=www.politicsweb.co.za |language=en}}</ref>
==Incidents== When Paulsen took office as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, he was assigned a laptop. He resigned as a Member of the Provincial Parliament in May 2015 and initially refused to hand the laptop back.<ref>Felix, Jason. [https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/eff-mp-returns-stolen-laptop-password-stinky-14982574 EFF MP returns ‘stolen’ laptop - password: ‘Stinky’], ''IOL'', 15 May 2018. Retrieved on 16 August 2019.</ref> The Provincial Parliament approached the police, and he was charged with theft.<ref>[https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/eff-mp-nazier-paulsen-in-court-over-stolen-laptop-23322947 EFF MP Nazier Paulsen in court over ‘stolen’ laptop], ''IOL'', 16 May 2019. Retrieved on 16 August 2019.</ref> The charge was withdrawn in July 2019.<ref>Etheridge, Jenna. [https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/this-is-far-from-over-eff-mp-threatens-legal-action-against-da-leaders-after-laptop-theft-charge-withdrawn-20190712 'This is far from over' - EFF MP threatens legal action against DA leaders after laptop theft charge withdrawn], 12 July 2019, ''News24''. Retrieved on 16 August 2019.</ref>
On 6 November 2018, Paulsen was involved in a fracas with Agang MP, Andries Tlouamma.<ref>Selisho, Kaunda. [https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/2033581/twitter-in-two-minds-about-the-paulsen-tlouamma-scuffle/ Twitter in two minds about the Paulsen – Tlouamma scuffle], ''The Citizen'', 7 November 2018. Retrieved on 4 September 2019.</ref> In response, President Cyril Ramaphosa called on MPs to embrace non-racialism when interacting with one another.<ref>Gerber, Jan. [https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/ramaphosa-calls-for-parliament-to-embody-non-racialism-after-eff-attacks-da-agangs-tlouamma-20181106 Ramaphosa calls for Parliament to embody non-racialism after EFF attacks DA, Agang's Tlouamma], ''News24'', 6 November 2018. Retrieved on 4 September 2019.</ref> The footage of the occurrence was referred to Parliament's Disciplinary Committee.<ref>Dentlinger, Lindsay. [https://ewn.co.za/2018/11/08/parly-brawl-footage-to-be-referred-to-disciplinary-committee Parly brawl footage to be referred to disciplinary committee], Cape Town, ''EWN'', 8 November 2018. Retrieved on 4 September 2019.</ref>
On 15 August 2019, Paulsen appeared in court due to his alleged assault of a man who was parked outside his ex-wife's house in early August. His next court appearance was in September.<ref>[https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/courts/2168147/eff-mp-in-court-on-assault-charge-after-clash-with-man-at-exs-home/ EFF MP in court on assault charge after clash with man at ex's home], ''The Citizen'', 16 August 2019. Retrieved on 16 August 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/video-eff-mp-nazier-paulsen-filmed-attacking-man-outside-his-ex-wifes-house-30856463 VIDEO: EFF MP Nazier Paulsen filmed attacking man outside his ex-wife's house], ''IOL'', 16 August 2019. Retrieved on 16 August 2019.</ref>
On 19 November 2019, Paulsen was asked to leave the National Assembly following his refusal to retract his statement that Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan appoints SOE staff based on their race.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gerber |first1=Jan |title=EFF MP shown the door after saying Gordhan's appointments are based on race |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/eff-mp-shown-the-door-after-saying-gordhans-appointments-are-based-on-race-20191119 |access-date=19 November 2019 |newspaper=News24 |date=19 November 2019}}</ref>
During a sitting of the National Assembly in March 2021, Paulsen told DA MP Phumzile van Damme to go back to Eswatini and the DA chief whip in the National Assembly, Natasha Mazzone, to go back to Italy. Deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli then ordered Paulsen to leave the House amid the tension. As Paulsen was leaving, the DA's Van Damme waved at him and Tsenoli told her not to be provocative. Van Damme then said that Paulsen allegedly threatened to "beat her up" and got into an argument with EFF MPs. She was then ordered to leave and was accompanied by two male DA MPs, Kevin Mileham and Chris Hunsinger. Paulsen denied threatening her.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gerber|first=Jan|date=2 March 2021|title=EFF's Paulsen, DA's Van Damme kicked out of National Assembly after tensions boil over|work=News24|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/effs-paulsen-das-van-damme-kicked-out-of-national-assembly-after-tensions-boil-over-20210302|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Nkanjeni|first=Unathi|date=4 March 2021|title=War of words between DA's Phumzile Van Damme & EFF's Nazier Paulsen over alleged threats of violence|work=TimesLIVE|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2021-03-04-war-of-words-between-das-phumzile-van-damme--effs-nazier-paulsen-over-alleged-threats-of-violence/|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> On 28 July 2021, the National Assembly's Power and Privileges Committee decided that it would investigate the matter and that Paulsen would face disciplinary hearings for his actions. It is alleged that he also threatened to assault two other DA MPs at the sitting back in March.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Felix|first=Jason|date=29 July 2021|title=Parliament to proceed with hearing on fracas between EFF's Nazier Paulsen and DA MPs|work=News24|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/parliament-to-proceed-with-hearing-on-fracas-between-effs-nazier-paulsen-and-da-mps-20210729|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Davis|first=Gaye|date=29 July 2021|title=EFF's Paulsen to face disciplinary proceedings for {{sic|threating|hide=y}} MPs with violence|work=EWN|location=Cape Town|url=https://ewn.co.za/2021/07/29/eff-mp-paulsen-to-face-disciplinary-proceedings-for-physically-threating-3-mps|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>
In January 2023, the Cape Youth Front (CYF) filed charges against Mr Paulsen after he called for supporters of Cape independence to be executed on social media platform X (formerly twitter).<ref>{{Cite web |title=EFF MP calls for execution of Cape independence supporters {{!}} The Cape Independent |url=https://www.capeindependent.com/article/eff-mp-calls-for-execution-of-cape-independence-supporters |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=www.capeindependent.com}}</ref> In addition, in response to a pro-Cape Independence account he said: “we should start finding the IP addresses of these accounts and start locating the people behind it”. The CYF consequently formally laid charges against Mr Paulsen, on ground of incitement to commit violence under Section 17 of the Riotous Assembly Act [no. 17 of 1956].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=C. Y. F. |date=2024-01-15 |title=Cape Youth Front Lays Charges Against Nazier Paulsen |url=https://www.capeyouthfront.org/post/cape-youth-front-lays-charges-against-nazier-paulsen |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Cape Youth Front |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.pa.org.za/person/mogamad-nazier-paulsen/ Mr Mogamad Nazier Paulsen at People's Assembly] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20200523210043/https://www.parliament.gov.za/person-details/303 Mr Mogamad Nazier Paulsen at Parliament of South Africa]
{{Current MPs of South Africa}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paulsen, Nazier}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Economic Freedom Fighters politicians Category:Living people Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2019–2024 Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019 Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2024–2029 Category:Members of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament