Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma's office on Thursday denied that he had not been in Parliament since he was heckled by Economic Freedom Fighters members on August 21.
“The president attended the delivery of the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement by the Minister of Finance, Mr Nhlanhla Nene on 24 October 2014, in the National Assembly,” said spokesman Mac Maharaj in a statement.
“President Zuma also delivered his annual address to the National Council of Provinces on 6 November 2014 which included a debate of the speech by all parties in the NCOP, in Parliament.”
Maharaj highlighted that Zuma was not a member of Parliament and only went to the National Assembly when he was invited or for scheduled formal engagements.
In August, EFF caused pandemonium, banging on their desks and chanting “pay back the money”.
While Zuma had since attended Parliament, he has not returned to answer questions regarding the multi-million rand upgrades at his Nkandla homestead.
He was expected back in Parliament on February 12 where he was to deliver the State of the Nation Address.
Members of the EFF have vowed to disrupt Zuma's speech, following National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete's refusal to schedule a session prior to the official opening of Parliament, for Zuma to explain when he would the pay back the money.
“We are scared that if we don't hold Zuma accountable on the 12th of February, we are likely to see him again in 2016,” EFF leader Julius Malema said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
“He may not come back after the state of the nation because he has proved that he doesn't take Parliament seriously,” said Malema.
Sapa