Parliamentary speaker turns down EFF request for special debate

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Parliamentary speaker, Baleka Mbete, has turned down a request by the Economic Freedom Fighters for a special debate at which it wants president Zuma to answer questions on Nkandla.

The EFF wanted Mbeteto convene the special sitting ahead of the State of the Nation address, warning that if this did not happen it may insist that Zuma answer these questions during the State of the Nation address.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Speaker said the EFF's threat amounted to intimidation.

She said the State of the Nation Address is not an appropriate forum for the president to answer questions.