Barbs and insults flew thick and fast in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon after DA leader Mmusi Maimane described President Jacob Zuma as a thief.
“The truth is that this man is a thief‚” he said during the Presidency’s budget vote in the National Assembly which was characterised by heckling‚ shouting and fists flying as EFF members were kicked out by security officials on Wednesday.
ANC Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu Jackson Mthembu leapt to Zuma’s defence‚ demanding that the insult by Maimane be withdrawn.
IFP MP Narend Singh said the term thief was offensive.
Zuma was also referred to as “accused number one” by the DA as arguments erupted over arms deal charges being reinstated against him following a ruling by the North Gauteng High Court which found that the National Prosecuting Authority was wrong to drop fraud‚ corruption and racketeering charges against him.
Maimane was warned by the speaker that he could not call Zuma an accused criminal.
Zuma was also referred to as “looter in chief” to which irate ANC members of parliament responded by accusing Maimane of being a “drug lord“.