EFF kicked out of #SONA2016

Published Feb 11, 2016

Share

Parliament – The opening of Parliament descended into farce on Thursday evening with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) making good on threats to interrupt President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address.

Speaker Baleka Mbete soon lost her cool and asked EFF members to withdraw from the chamber after they interrupted Zuma's speech every few minutes.

She said to EFF leader Julius Malema: “Honourable Malema, I really have to prevail on you to leave the chamber.”

There was no need to call in the parliamentary protection guard to physically remove the MPs, as was the case during last year's SONA.

The boisterous MPs walked out, shortly after National Council of Provinces chairwoman Thandi Modise asked the serjeant-at-arms to intervene.

Cries of  "Zupta Must Fall!" echoed through the House as the EFF were escorted out.

 Malema led his party out of the chamber, as they danced and shouted "When we come back next time you will not be president" in parting.

Minutes earlier Malema had shouted at Modise: "It is incorrect, you are out of order. There is nothing that Zuma deserves from us. Zuma is no longer a president that deserves respect from any of us ... he has made this country a joke.

"We are not going to allow that." 

 The EFF made good on their threat to disrupt Zuma’s address with a question about the axing of Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene.

EFF MP Godrich Gardee rose on a point of order, saying Zuma had read two pages of a speech without mentioning Nene and explaining his removal.

When Zuma ignored him and continued his speech, he shouted: “Sit down Mr Zupta!”

Mbete told Gardee that his point was not relevant to Zuma's address.

Gardee shot back: “It is very relevant - R500 billion gone.”

He was told to sit down, and Zuma resumed his speech, but lost his place and repeated several paragraphs about the need to fight racism.

The EFF continued to disturb proceedings before being told to leave.

 Earlier, Congress of the People MPs walked out of the House after their leader Mosiuoa Lekota was booted after refusing to sit down when asked to do so.

African News Agency

 

EFF supporters dancing and chanting following the @EconFreedomZA exit from Parliament #SONA16 pic.twitter.com/gJhY1XSbRH

— MojoIOL (@mojoIOL) February 11, 2016

 

Related Topics: