IN PICTURES: EFF thrown out of Parliament

04 May 2016 - 18:11
By Staff Reporter

President Jacob Zuma's first appearance in parliament since the courts made two damning rulings against him got off to a bumpy start on Wednesday when rowdy Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) members were ejected from the National Assembly.

EFF member Mbuyiseni Ndlozi was forcibly ejected from the National Assembly on 4 May 2016 after the party attempted to prevent President Jacob Zuma from delivering his budget vote speech.
Image: David Harrison EFF member Mbuyiseni Ndlozi was forcibly ejected from the National Assembly on 4 May 2016 after the party attempted to prevent President Jacob Zuma from delivering his budget vote speech.

The EFF wrote a letter to speaker Baleka Mbete asking that Zuma not be allowed to speak in the National Assembly as he had violated the Constitution.

Zuma was present to address the National Assembly in Cape Town regarding the 2016/17 budget allocations for his administration.

Mbete declined the request. The sitting then soon turned into a screaming match between members of the EFF and Mbete who repeated over and again "Leave the chamber".

Parliamentary protection officers were summoned‚ to which EFF members said: "We are going to throw water in your face."

In the first court ruling‚ the Constitutional Court found that Zuma had failed to uphold‚ respect and defend the Constitution.

EFF leader Julius Malema vowed after the ruling that Zuma would not be allowed to address parliament.

The second court ruling by the North Gauteng High Court found the National Procesuting Authority was wrong to drop fraud‚ corruption and racketeering charges against him relating to the arms deal.