[Published: Friday February 13 2015]
South Africa: Malema MPs heckle Zuma
Pretoria, 13 Feb - (ANA) - South Africa's parliament descended into chaos as leftist MPs scuffled with security during a key annual speech by President Jacob Zuma.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by Julius Malema, repeatedly interrupted Mr Zuma, demanding answers over a spending scandal. The speaker of parliament then ordered their removal, prompting scuffles. The largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, walked out in protest at their expulsion. "You can't send police into parliament," said Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane. The EFF used President Zuma's annual State of the Nation speech to question him about a state-funded, multi-million dollar upgrade to his private residence. They were evicted by large numbers of security guards. Among those thrown out was Mr Malema. It began rather politely - an EFF MP standing up to interrupt President Zuma about one minute after he had launched into the substance of his State of the Nation address. The speaker of parliament, Baleka Mbete, was expecting it, and urged the MP, and others who followed suit, to leave their questions for another occasion. But when Julius Malema loudly demanded the president "pay back the money" from the upgrade to his home, the speaker ordered him to leave. Malema refused, and suddenly several dozen white-shirted security officials were pouring into the room. They crowded around the EFF and began to pull the MPs out of the chamber. Last year an independent inquiry found the president had "unduly benefited" from the expensive upgrades, which included a pool and a cattle enclosure and cost about $23m (£13.8m). The president has denied any wrongdoing. Despite criticism of the Nkandla upgrade and the country's stagnant economy, Mr Zuma's African National Congress was overwhelmingly re-elected last year. (ANA)
FA/ANA/13 February 2015---------
|