If Julius Malema pulled down his pants and flashed his bottom at the Speaker in parliament, his own supporters would applaud. The commentariat would probably write approvingly of the impact he was making as an opposition MP. But most of adult South Africa would not be amused.
The goings-on in parliament on Thursday night (November 13) were appalling. Chaotic scenes of disorder with MPs shouting and screaming abuse and insults at each other and at the chair; presiding officers failing to maintain order; the Serjeant-at-Arms stationing the SAPS outside before the debate began, clearly anticipating disorder, and then summoning them to enter the National Assembly to remove MPs; DA and EFF members mixing it with the SAPS; MPs injured and taken to hospital. It was a travesty of democracy.
No one can be proud of what happened and it ought to stop right there. South Africa's young democracy cannot afford a political discourse conducted at this level. If that becomes the tone in parliament, one can only imagine how impossible it will become in the streets. What is to be done?
The ANC, only six months into its five-year term, is clearly on the skids. This is reflected in the National Assembly. Despite a large majority, the government increasingly abuses its position in a vain attempt to whitewash a president who is a political liability.
The Speaker made the cardinal error of a second coming, forgetting the words of 2 Peter 2:22: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire." The so-called tripartite alliance is unraveling and ANC MPs are starting to feel the cold wind, knowing that many of them will not be re-elected the next time South Africa goes to the polls.
The DA leader, Musi Maimane and the new Opposition Chief Whip, John Steenhusen are both doing well and earning respect for their solid speeches and contributions. Predictions that Julius Malema would outshine them have not been borne out by events, although he has an uncanny ability to capture headlines. It is becoming apparent that grandstanding, calling the president a thief, shouting and screaming have a limited impact after a while and the EFF contribution to parliament up to now has merely been to make it interesting and sometimes amusing.