Daily Sun (February 13 2015) - THE EFF made good on its promise to disrupt President Jacob Zuma's state-of-the-nation address last night.
Fist fights broke out when EFF members were escorted out of the house by security men in white shirts.
THIS WAS AFTER SECURITY WAS CALLED INTO THE HOUSE WHEN EFF LEADER JULIUS MALEMA REFUSED TO LEAVE WHEN HE WAS ORDERED TO BY SPEAKER BALEKA MBETE.
TV footage showed some of the MPs being punched and shoved. Some of the security guards had their shirts ripped off and had to stand bare-chested. Then the DA marched out of the house, citing concern that police had been deployed there.
The chaos was triggered by the party of red overalls when they demanded to know when Zuma was going to pay back some of the money used for upgrades at his Nkandla home.
The unfolding chaos in Parliament led to Zuma delivering his address only to ANC MPs and smaller opposition parties after the main opposition parties walked out of the house over concerns about police being deployed.
Parliamentary proceedings got off to a shaky start when it emerged that cellphone signals had been jammed. There were chants of "bring back the signal" by opposition parties and journalists before Zuma entered the house.
As it seemed Zuma would deliver his state-of-the-nation address uninterrupted, EFF MP Goldrich Gardee stood up to raise a point of order.
Another EFF MP stood up on a similar order before party leader Julius Malema stood up and challenged Mbete.
"Honourable Malema, I'm not going to allow you to raise a point of order because there is nothing new you are going to raise," she said.
Malema responded: "You are making a mistake by reading my mind. I'm not working for you. I'm not here on your invitation, I was elected to be here."
At that point Mbete called in security and the offending MPs were reportedly taken to a location in the precinct.
The podium was left to Zuma, who continued to deliver his address with ANC MPs applauding at every opportunity.
Among other things, Zuma said stabilising Eskom's finances was a priority and it would be given R23bn to do so.
He also said foreigners would no longer be allowed to own land in Mzansi. Instead they would be eligible for long-term leases. In terms of new proposed laws, a ceiling of land ownership would be set at a maximum 12 000 hectares.
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