Sona chaos as fists and insults fly
EFF evicted, DA walk out, Zuma laughs before addressing nation
PARLIAMENT descended into chaos last night with opposition parties denouncing President Jacob Zuma as a “scoundrel” and “rotten to the core” because of corruption allegations and then brawling with guards who dragged them out of the chamber.
The raucous scenes unfolded on national television as the opposition tried to stop Zuma from delivering the State of the Nation Address, repeatedly insulting the president and declaring him unfit for office. In the surrounding streets in the CBD, police and hundreds of military forces patrolled to guard against protesters who want Zuma to quit.
Security teams eventually were called into the chamber to remove EFF members, some of whom threw punches and pounded guards with plastic helmets.
DA MPs then walked out in protest. Some members of the ANC heckled them as they left. “Out! Out!” they shouted. “Finally,” said a laughing Zuma, who then started the Sona and spoke on the economy and other national matters.
Zuma has faced calls to resign even from some ANC members, who had blamed him for the party’s poor performance in local elections in August, in which the ANC lost control of some metros.
Critics condemned an announcement by the presidency that 441 members of the military would assist police in maintaining order during yesterday’s opening of Parliament.
While at least one group of protesters scuffled with police who blocked their path, the streets were mostly calm yesterday in contrast to the events later in Parliament.
Zuma is “rotten to the core,” said Julius Malema, leader of the EFF. Other opposition legislators described the president as a “scoundrel” and a “constitutional delinquent”.
Earlier, police near Parliament used stun grenades to disperse ruling party members and opposition groups who were fighting.
The hours leading up to Zuma’s speech featured the pomp associated with the annual opening of Parliament, when dignitaries walked on a red carpet and posed for cameras in an impromptu fashion show.
Zuma’s speech addressed numerous sources of frustration for many South Africans, including the delivery of basic services and an economy that has stalled.
He said it was expected the country would achieve 1.3% growth in 2017, after just 0.5% last year.
ZUMA IS ‘ROTTEN TO THE CORE’, SAID JULIUS MALEMA, LEADER OF THE EFF. OTHER OPPOSITION LEGISLATORS DESCRIBED THE PRESIDENT AS A ‘SCOUNDREL’ AND A ‘CONSTITUTIONAL DELINQUENT’.