Firing the presiding officers would be “a small price to pay for the good of Parliament and of the nation”‚ the Congress of the People (Cope) said. Party spokesperson Dennis Bloem singled out “the farcical rulings of Raseriti Tau‚ deputy chairperson of the National Council of Provinces‚ who presided over the beer hall-type chaos” of the debate on the State of the Nation Address.He said the African National Congress’ chip whip in the National Assembly‚ Stone Sizane‚ was‚ on a “radio station debate” on Thursday night‚ “unable to answer why Parliament had descended into such a state of chaos”.Bloem‚ however‚ offered an explanation: “What is now happening in the house is an off-shoot of the Nkandla saga and other difficulties (President Jacob) Zuma has with the law.”He said that “when Zuma became president‚ he and the ANC terminated” an arrangement in which members of the opposition served as “presiding officers at different times”.Under the late President Nelson Mandela‚ Dr Bhadra Ranchod of the National Party served as deputy speaker‚ Bloem pointed out.“By invitation of the ANC‚ under President Thabo Mbeki‚ a number of Inkatha Freedom Party MPs were allowed to preside over proceedings in the house…amongst them…Lionel Mtshali‚ Kisten Rajoo‚ Farouk Cassim and Ben Skosana‚” he said. “In all this period‚ there was order‚ respect and co-operation in the house. Frene Ginwala and Max Sisulu lent great dignity and stature to the office of speaker.“They were highly respected and admired for their impartiality even though they were senior members of the ANC. Politics did not intrude into the conduct of parliamentary matters.” Zuma changed this‚ Bloem ventured‚ “to have presiding officers who could protect him at all costs”.“Impartiality gave way to open partisan behaviour and an undermining of the Constitution. The opposition was seen as the enemy and all co-operation was ended‚” he added.“Cope believes that for Parliament to regain its decorum and former glory‚ all of the presiding officers must be fired‚” said Bloem...