'The EFF touches the untouchable': Malema defends walk-out
The EFF has defended its decision to disrupt President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address, saying its actions were "democratic".
"This is a democratic Parliament. We cannot sit in a democratic Parliament with an apartheid apologist who does not accept that apartheid was dangerous and a crime against humanity," said EFF leader Julius Malema on the steps of the National Assembly building after he and his party members staged a walk-out ahead of Ramaphosa's speech.
Moments before Ramaphosa was due to deliver his speech at around 19:00, Malema rose on a point of order and asked National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise to eject former apartheid-era president FW de Klerk.
"Honourable speaker, we have a murderer in the House. We have a man who has got blood of innocent people in this House which is supposed to represent the will of our people and therefore it is incorrect for you to have extended an invitation to De Klerk," said Malema.
He charged the former president was an "unrepentant apologist of apartheid" and it was therefore an insult for those who died at Vlakplaas to have him present in a democratic Parliament."