Cape Town - Parliament is expected to put more stringent security measures in place ahead of the appearance of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Chamber on Wednesday.
The institution was already on high alert following the fracas last Tuesday when EFF MPs were involved in a brawl with security officers from Parliament.
This was when EFF MPs blocked President Jacob Zuma from answering questions, resulting in scuffles and damage to property worth thousands of rands.
EFF members allegedly trashed a section of the institution in the National Assembly and the ANC and DA have called for more measures to prevent this.
Ramaphosa will be in the National Assembly on Wednesday to answer several questions.
There was a bomb scare in Parliament last Thursday when an unattended bag was spotted by security near the National Council of Provinces.
The suspicious bag led to the police cordoning off the area and calling in the explosives unit.
After sniffer dogs and the police found that the bag posed no threat, as it contained clothes, the area was cleared.
However, security remains tight around Parliament following the drama of last Tuesday.
ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu said he welcomed tight measures to prevent any trouble in the House.
He said last week it would be a pity if there was “any danger or threat to the lives of Zuma, Ramaphosa or ordinary MPs”.
Ramaphosa will be in the Chamber to answer several questions including on the findings of the public protector that the ANC had abused its position by distributing food parcels in the run-up to the 2009 elections.
The EFF has promised that Zuma will not be able to talk in Parliament until he has left office.
But the ANC said Zuma was an elected leader.
The ANC has complained about Parliament being held hostage by the EFF.
Parliament confirmed that it had laid charges against EFF members allegedly involved in the violence.
It said the video footage “would be able to indicate who was behind the trouble”.
Parliament roped in former police officers to serve as security officers to eject EFF MPs.
Speaker Baleka Mbete said they were forced to bring in security because the EFF was intent on making Parliament ungovernable.
The institution has enforced rules governing MPs to try and force them to toe the line.
Political Bureau