Parliament - The loud howling and chanting of MPs reverberated throughout the parliamentary precinct on Thursday as chaos erupted in the National Assembly chamber.
The noise could be heard from outside the chamber building.
Parliamentary staff could be seen chuckling and joking about the “playground antics” inside the chamber.
Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters MPs continuously defied Speaker Baleka Mbete after she ruled that motions be cut short as the programme of Thursday's sitting was so long it could have meant MPs would be debating until well into the night.
Both the DA and EFF objected, saying Mbete's ruling was not the agreement reached during a meeting of the programme committee earlier in the day.
Mbete refused to recognise members of the opposition who tried to address her on the matter.
This prompted the MPs to shout into their microphones, demanding to be heard. Mbete ordered MPs to sit down.
Deputy DA chief whip Mike Waters refused, and was told to leave the chamber.
He emphatically stated “I will not”.
Several DA MPs jumped to Waters's defence, and chanted “you must go”, pointing at Mbete. Several other MPs then suggested Mbete suspend proceedings. She refused.
Even a call from Kenneth Meshoe, leader of the African Christian Democratic Party, would not move Mbete.
“We are embarrassed ourselves. We cannot carry on this way,” Meshoe said of the chaotic situation in the chamber.
He said Mbete's ruling was responsible for the disorder.
Mbete replied “I regret I will not agree to what you are saying”.
Sapa