President Jacob Zuma began to deliver his 10th State of the Nation Address more than an hour after the scheduled start as Parliament once again descended into chaos Thursday night.
Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters fought back as security men dragged them from the National Assembly on Thursday, some MPs using their trademark hard hats to hit them through the face.
As the violence erupted, President Jacob Zuma could be seen laughing. The EFF had for an hour prevented Zuma from delivering his tenth state of the nation address.
Democratic Alliance chief whip John Steenhuisen stood up to challenge Mbete on allowing security forces into Parliament, in a violation of the law and court orders.
“You are breaking Parliament. That man has broken South Africa and you are breaking Parliament,” Steenhuisen charged.
At this, Steenhuisen was shouted down from the ruling party benches as a “racist”.
The DA then proceeded to leave the National Assembly.
Earlier, Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota, who called Zuma a “scoundrel” and party deputy, Willie Madisha also walked out of Parliament, refusing to be addressed by President Zuma.
The police’s public order policing members also had their hands full on Thursday afternoon as they battled to push back a crowd of protesting students ahead of President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation (SONA) address.
The group of young people, mainly students in school uniforms, waved placards and chanted slogans in support of Zuma and insulting opposition party leaders, including Julius Malema of the Economic Freedom Fighters and Helen Zille of the Democratic Alliance.
“Allow us to come inside and deal with Malema,” some of the protesters shouted as police officers in riot gear pushed them back.
Some of the students threw litter at the police officers who were holding shields and wearing helmets.
Before 6pm, the students had been pushed back, forcefully, to the intersection of Darling and Corporation Street in the Cape Town CBD.
(Additional reporting and image ANA)
