Chaos and fist fights broke out in the National Assembly during the State of the Nation address (Sona) in Cape Town last night.
For the first time in South Africa's democratic order, President Jacob Zuma was interrupted while delivering his Sona by Julius Malema and his EFF MPs, who traded blows with security officers as they were forcefully ejected from the house.
For the first time a political party staged a walkout from the Sona when DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane led his party’s MPs as they walked out of the chamber in protest against the alleged deployment of police, who apparently took part in the violence that unfolded before Zuma and former presidents Thabo Mbeki and FW de Klerk.
As the security staff, rumoured to be from the police, walked in, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng walked out.
All this unfolded in front of the leadership of the judiciary, diplomats representing foreign countries and religious and business leaders.
All hell broke loose when Malema and his party demanded that Zuma explain when was he going to pay back public money spent on his homestead.
But when national Speaker Baleka Mbete ruled that the Sona was no occasion for the president to take questions, Malema would have none of that, and eventually the Speaker to ask him to leave the house. “I’m not going to leave, chair,” he shouted back. Mbete then ordered parliament’s security officers – who had been prepared for the fighting match with training on manhandling techniques last week – to remove Malema and his MPs.
Attempts by about 24 EFF MPs to form a human shield around Malema and prevent the security forces failed as they applied serious force to eject them, resulted in a trade of blows, with the MPs using their hard hats to attack security personnel.
ANC MP and small business minister Lindiwe Zulu clapped and cheered the fight. Desks were overturned and several hard hats remained scattered on the floor.
EFF MP Bernard Joseph, who is a large man, fought back hard, requiring several men to carry him and Malema out.
Veteran MP and IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi registered his disgust when he spontaneously stood up to address the house on the matter. “We can’t have people indulging in fists, tearing our country apart, what has happened is utter nonsense,” said an angry Buthelezi.
Thandi Modise, the National Council of Provinces chairwoman who was co-presiding with Mbete, defended the use of force.
“Honourable members, it is understandable that we’ll react to what we’ve just witnessed. It’s something which the rules of parliament never anticipated would happen. Therefore let’s agree that such incidents will not happen again in our parliament,” said Modise.
Speaking to the media after his brawl with the security officers, Malema alleged that they had been manhandled by the SAPS and not parliament’s security staff.
He said he was unshaken and his party would remain a thorn in Zuma’s side.
“It’s a sad day that elected representatives can be beaten by police, including women. Reneilwe Mashabela was held by no less than seven men. One of them was beating her on the face with a shoe and they kept her in a corner where we could not see her and continued to assault her. We have since taken her to hospital.”
lDeadlines and the dramatic delays prevented a report on the Sona itself.
VIDEO: DISHONOURABLE
For the first time in South Africa's democratic order, President Jacob Zuma was interrupted while delivering his Sona by Julius Malema and his EFF MPs, who traded blows with security officers as they were forcefully ejected from the house.
For the first time a political party staged a walkout from the Sona when DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane led his party’s MPs as they walked out of the chamber in protest against the alleged deployment of police, who apparently took part in the violence that unfolded before Zuma and former presidents Thabo Mbeki and FW de Klerk.
As the security staff, rumoured to be from the police, walked in, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng walked out.
All this unfolded in front of the leadership of the judiciary, diplomats representing foreign countries and religious and business leaders.
All hell broke loose when Malema and his party demanded that Zuma explain when was he going to pay back public money spent on his homestead.
But when national Speaker Baleka Mbete ruled that the Sona was no occasion for the president to take questions, Malema would have none of that, and eventually the Speaker to ask him to leave the house. “I’m not going to leave, chair,” he shouted back. Mbete then ordered parliament’s security officers – who had been prepared for the fighting match with training on manhandling techniques last week – to remove Malema and his MPs.
Attempts by about 24 EFF MPs to form a human shield around Malema and prevent the security forces failed as they applied serious force to eject them, resulted in a trade of blows, with the MPs using their hard hats to attack security personnel.
ANC MP and small business minister Lindiwe Zulu clapped and cheered the fight. Desks were overturned and several hard hats remained scattered on the floor.
EFF MP Bernard Joseph, who is a large man, fought back hard, requiring several men to carry him and Malema out.
Veteran MP and IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi registered his disgust when he spontaneously stood up to address the house on the matter. “We can’t have people indulging in fists, tearing our country apart, what has happened is utter nonsense,” said an angry Buthelezi.
Thandi Modise, the National Council of Provinces chairwoman who was co-presiding with Mbete, defended the use of force.
“Honourable members, it is understandable that we’ll react to what we’ve just witnessed. It’s something which the rules of parliament never anticipated would happen. Therefore let’s agree that such incidents will not happen again in our parliament,” said Modise.
Speaking to the media after his brawl with the security officers, Malema alleged that they had been manhandled by the SAPS and not parliament’s security staff.
He said he was unshaken and his party would remain a thorn in Zuma’s side.
“It’s a sad day that elected representatives can be beaten by police, including women. Reneilwe Mashabela was held by no less than seven men. One of them was beating her on the face with a shoe and they kept her in a corner where we could not see her and continued to assault her. We have since taken her to hospital.”
lDeadlines and the dramatic delays prevented a report on the Sona itself.
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