Security staff beef up as parliament prepares for Zuma

Parliament has taken the unprecedented step of sending its security staff on self-defence classes in preparation for President Jacob Zuma's state of the nation address on Thursday.

This is a clear indication of parliament's unease over possible physical fights with Economic Freedom Fighters MPs during the address.

Last night, the whole of parliament's security staff, numbering about 80, were picked up from their homes and called to an otherwise deserted parliamentary precinct for training.

The Sunday Times understands the exercise will be repeated tonight.

Last week, parliament's secretary, Gengezi Mgidlana, insisted that no extraordinary security measures were planned to prevent Zuma's big day from spiralling into chaos.

But 16 of the institution's "most physically strong" protection officers were sent for a three-day special training camp at the SAPS Academy in Bishop Lavis on the Cape Flats.

The training was done by the public order policing unit, and the officers were taught "manhandling" techniques and how to use crowd-control gear such as batons and handcuffs.

The extraordinary measures have angered some parliamentary staffers.

Sources with knowledge of the plan said it also involved procuring combat gear such as bulletproof vests and tommy bars. Parliament's spokesman, Luzuko Jacobs, denied this.

A parliamentary official, who asked to remain anonymous because he is not authorised to speak publicly, said: "We don't understand why staff are being trained to apply force.

"Basically they're being trained on how to manhandle a person. They are being trained by members of the public order police."

The ramped-up security plans are designed to prevent a repetition of November's chaotic scenes in the National Assembly when members of the SAPS moved into the House in an attempt to remove an EFF MP who had called Zuma a thief.

The plans have infuriated opposition parties, which have remained steadfast in their opposition to the presence of public order police inside the National Assembly chamber.

Jacobs this week sought to play down the self-defence training, claiming there was nothing unusual about it.

But another official in the protection services, who declined to be named for fear of victimisation, insisted that this was the first time such training had been undertaken.

"I've been in parliament for nine years and there's never been something like this," the insider said.

"It's only because of this [state of the nation address] that we now hear of stuff such as batons, bulletproof vests.

"We're taken aback. We're wondering whether we're becoming an army or what's going on."

The State Security Agency has been brought in and will take responsibility for the accreditation process. For the first time, invited guests are required to provide ID-size pictures.

On Thursday, the spotlight will fall on three main actors: Zuma, National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete and EFF leader Julius Malema (below).

The EFF has a ticker on its website, counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds to its promised clash with Zuma, under the heading "SONA countdown Zuma #paybackthemoney Time remaining".

Malema, battling infighting in his party, will need to live up to the self-generated hype or risk political damage. He has repeatedly promised to confront Zuma the moment he rises to deliver his speech on Thursday to ask the president when he will pay back the money taxpayers paid for work on his Nkandla home.

This weekend, EFF leaders were meeting in Krugersdorp to finalise their strategy.

Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said parliament's presiding officers would deal with the issue of whether Zuma would take questions.

ANC parliamentary spokesman Moloto Mothapo said the issue would be left up to parliament.

However, ANC chief whip Stone Sizani is expected to call its MPs together for a strategic caucus before Thursday's speech.

Mbete, who has repeatedly lost her temper with the EFF, faces her biggest public test yet.

The joint rules are silent on the issue of questions during a joint sitting such as this , which means they are not expressly forbidden. However, Joint Rule 2 states that the speaker "may give a ruling or make a rule in respect of any matter for which the joint rules do not provide".