Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma has criticised opposition parties for the violent conduct in the National Assembly after they lashed him over the Nkandla saga and corruption charges.
Opposition MPs were conspicuous by their absence in the chamber on Thursday after they resolved to boycott Zuma’s reply to their views on his budget vote presented on Wednesday. Only the IFP attended the president’s address.
Wednesday was Zuma’s first appearance in Parliament since the courts made two damning rulings against him. It degenerated into chaos when EFF MPs were ejected from the National Assembly.
The EFF had earlier written a letter to Speaker Baleka Mbete asking that Zuma be barred from speaking in the National Assembly as he had violated the constitution and also faced the reinstatement of corruption charges.
The EFF also requested an urgent debate on the issue, but Mbete declined, saying there was no basis in law to prevent him from speaking.
In the first ruling against Zuma‚ the Constitutional Court found that he had failed to uphold, respect and defend the constitution. The second court ruling by the high court in Pretoria found the National Prosecuting Authority was wrong to drop fraud, corruption and racketeering charges against the president relating to the arms deal.
On Wednesday, the EFF’s Floyd Shivambu said it was against the law to allow an “illegitimate” person to address the House.
The DA suggested that Zuma be allowed to speak so that he could apologise for violating the constitution.
On Thursday, Zuma said the EFF MPs’ conduct left a lot to be desired and called on Mbete to get tougher and instil more discipline. He added he was often questioned in the rest of Africa on the EFF’s conduct.
Mbete said they would try to tighten rules and invited IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi, as an elder, to be part of the rules committee in this regard.