"Such behaviour and conduct cannot and must not be tolerated
Parliament should take stern action against members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) who disrupted President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address (Sona), Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe said on Thursday night.
“Such behaviour and conduct cannot and must not be tolerated, and we urge Parliament to apply the rules and take stern action against those members,” Radebe said at a media briefing held shortly after Zuma ended his speech.
“The government of the Republic of South Africa is deeply disappointed and disgusted at the despicable conduct of some elected public representatives who are hellbent on holding our democratic institutions, the electorate and our country [to] ransom.”
The National Assembly descended into chaos and violence when EFF MPs refused to leave the chamber, after National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete order them to.
Mbete ordered the legislature’s protection officers to enter the chamber, adding “the security forces must come in in terms of the Powers and Privileges Act”.
The security officers clashed with the EFF MPs, who tried to stand their ground.
Ungovernable
EFF leader Julius Malema was one of the last to be dragged out of the House, after fist fights broke out between party members and the security officers.
Radebe said the actions of Malema and his MPs were aimed at rendering Parliament ungovernable.
“The events that unfolded before our eyes … were aimed at bringing our hard-earned democracy into serious disrepute,” he said.
“People of this great land died for this great democracy. Their actions … dishonour the lives of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
Abided precisely
Meanwhile, ANC general secretary Gwede Mantashe said Zuma abided “very well and precisely” to policy set out by the ANC and government.
“The work that took place, if you follow our January 8 statement, to the lekgotla, all that is covered very well and precisely in the State of the Nation Address,” he said.
Mantashe was pleased that Zuma gave details on how government would deal with the energy crisis, as well as with land issues.
He condemned the disruptions which forced proceedings to a halt when EFF MPs demanded that Zuma “pay back the money” for the security upgrades on his Nkandla residence.
“We have been watching the race to the bottom by opposition parties, where they are actually outdoing each other … Anarchy will never [build] a nation,” he said, calling them “hooligans”.
However, he said he was pleased with the “firm” way in which the rules were applied to handle the situation. – Sapa, Staff reporter