Disgrace!
BRAWLS AND INSULTS MAR THE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS SPEAKER TO INVESTIGATE STUN GRENADE DETONATED IN PARLY
EFF leader Julius Malema and party members were forcibly removed from parliament last night by security personnel after delaying President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address. They exchanged blows with security in the proccess.
“FINALLY!” This is how President Jacob Zuma started his speech last night before giggling after witnessing EFF members being punched and kicked out of the National Assembly following disruptions that lasted more than an hour.
Zuma seemed unmoved by the violence that had taken place in the National Assembly after speaker Baleka Mbete had called in security personnel to remove EFF MPs who had disrupted his speech.
The scuffle overshadowed Zuma’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) – which had been hyped up as the president’s programme announcement of a radical economic transformation programme.
Julius Malema and his EFF MPs led the opposition in attempting to block Zuma from delivering the Sona, calling him a “corrupt, incorrigible man and constitutional delinquent”.
Zuma was a few seconds into his speech when EFF secretary general Godrich Gardee and Malema stood up calling the presiding officers not to allow him to deliver his speech.
“Sitting in front of us is an incorrigible man, rotten to the core,” said Malema. “He must address the nation from prison.”
After numerous attempts by Mbete and National Council of Provinces chairwoman Thandi Modise for the EFF to allow Zuma to speak, parliamentary security personnel were called and scuffles ensued.
EFF MPs threw their hard hats, but the security personnel overpowered them, punched and kicked them out of the House.
EFF members came out of the house screaming and wailing, followed by a large group of white shirts.
They came down the Poorthuis stairs still fighting and throwing punches.
About 30 public order police officials had lined up in full riot gear outside the Marks Building where the EFF offices are.
Speaking from a small stage, surrounded by smashed pot plants, Malema said: “We are prepared to leave this parliament in a coffin. We won’t be intimidated by soldiers and police who are protecting that constitutional delinquent.
“They are ready to chase out people who break the rules of parliament but defend a man who broke his oath of office,” Malema said.
“The ANC has suspended the constitution today. Baleka has collapsed this parliament into a department of the Zuma administration. History will record that we stood up to tyranny.”
Asked whether any EFF members had been injured, Gardee responded: “We are all injured.”
Mbuyiseni Ndlozi‚ who was limping‚ said all he remembered was a group of white shirts descending on him. Many of the MPs were breathless, sweating while some looked shaken.
People in the public gallery were not left unscathed by the commotion and could be heard coughing while covering their mouths because of pepper spray, Mbete promised to investigate the incident.
This time around the DA which at first pleaded that Zuma be allowed to present his speech, got irritated over the force that had been used to evict EFF MPs from the House.
DA and Cope MPs then also walked out.
Cope’s Willie Madisha was the first to be ejected by protection services. Mbete then turned her attention to the EFF.
“We will assist you to go,” she said.
It was a drama filled day in parliament as police had their hands full trying to maintain peace.
There were sporadic clashes between police and EFF supporters, and the ANC faithful.