The Economic Freedom Fighters on Wednesday welcomed an apology to its leader Julius Malema by National Assembly Speaker and ANC chairwoman Baleka Mbete.

“The EFF welcomes this apology as a step forward and hopes indeed that the unfortunate events of the 12 February 2015 will be reviewed with the same sincerity expressed in the Speaker’s apology,” the organisation said in a statement.

Mbete apologised on Wednesday for describing EFF leader Julius Malema as a cockroach.

“I apologise unconditionally, to South Africans, to Parliament and Honourable Julius Malema for any hurt or harm I may have caused,” Mbete said in a statement. SAPA