Parliament - Tensions rose in the National Assembly again on Thursday when members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) tried unsuccesfully to force President Jacob Zuma to answer questions on when he will pay back part of taxpayers money used on security upgrades to his private Nkandla home.
Zuma was meant to answer all outstanding questions from last year’s chaotic August 21 sitting which was disrupted by members of the EFF.
That question and answer session was interrupted when EFF banged on their desks and chanted “pay back the money” – making reference to a recommendation by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela that Zuma pay back a portion of the R246 million used to effect upgrades to Nkandla.
On Thursday, Speaker Baleka Mbete ruled that all questions after the ones on Nkandla would be put to Zuma, drawing immediate outrage from EFF benches.
“We are asking in a very polite way that the President should be given an opportunity to answer that question of when is he paying back the money and then we close that question otherwise that question will continue repeating itself,” EFF leader Julius Malema pleaded.
Mbete then repeatedly asked a defiant Malema to sit down, and even threatened to boot him from the house.
“I’m going to have to throw you out of the House. Please take your seat,” she said
An angry Malema refused to obey Mbete.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m not here on your invitation. I’m elected to be here,” Malema replied.
ANA