On Wednesday, EFF MPs were forcibly removed from Parliament after shouting down Ms Mbete and Mr Zuma, refusing to let him deliver his budget speech, saying they did not recognise him as president.
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Last month, South Africa’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, ruled that Mr Zuma had violated the constitution when he failed to repay government money used to upgrade his private home in the rural area of Nkandla.
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane‚ during the budget vote debate on the Presidency on Wednesday‚ said: “We can not support a Presidency budget that has spent R45m of public money – the equivalent of 375 RDP (reconstruction and development programme) houses – on legal fees since 2009 to fight Mr Zuma’s battles in court”.
“He said people also complained that the “drama‚ theatrics and antics” were changing perceptions of the country as a leading example of constitutional democracy”.
Yesterday was Zuma’s first appearance in Parliament since two significant court rulings against him; a day filled with drama and insults.
“I go around Africa and people ask me very embarrassing questions about this Parliament”.
Most EFF MPs were suspended after being thrown out when they did not want Zuma to speak on Wednesday. “It would be very important that you bring this House into some order, for the dignity of the country”, Zuma said. Other party members may participate in the parliamentary processes and business.
Opposition leaders said in a joint statement that their decision to boycott Thursday’s speech was intended “to send a strong message to the South African people that the opposition won’t allow Zuma to trample on the constitution, ignore court rulings and then come to parliament and ask for more money for his office”.
Zuma also took the opportunity to condemn violent protests in Limpopo, where more than 20 schools have reportedly been torched following a protest over dermacation. It degenerated into chaos when EFF MPs were ejected from the National Assembly.
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The ANC has stood firmly behind Zuma.
