Security cluster cannot put Zuma back together again

This is how Jacob Zuma's ANC deals with dissent - suspend, fire and, if that doesn't work, call in the police.

The decision yesterday to call on the government security cluster to ensure order in the National Assembly goes to the heart of the problems afflicting our troubled democracy.

It cannot be that security is imposed in the National Assembly by forces external to, and not under the immediate control of, the assembly.

But the security cluster ministers have told the nation that, from now on, their resources will be despatched to deal with those who bring chaos into the assembly.

The centre of democratic power has been eroded by this announcement.

ANC MPs failed to rescue the president from the unruly Economic Freedom Fighters so the police must do the job next time around. That is the best solution our leaders could think of.

Instead of acting to find solutions, the ruling party not only primes the police to deal with dissent but attacks those empowered by our constitution to hold the executive to account, such as the public protector.

We are told that what happened on Thursday, when the EFF MPs defied parliament, constitutes a security risk.

We are told that our democracy is under threat from unruly elements.

We are told that Adolf Hitler has risen from the dead and is working hard to dethrone the government, and that the public protector might be working in concert with the EFF.

All of the above point to a leadership that is paranoid, that does not know which way to turn.

We have been down this road before.

The apartheid government called on the police to deal with blacks who challenged its rule.

Now we see those who must know better mimicking their masters of the past.

We are not saying that the EFF should get red-carpet treatment, but the reaction to its tactics should not corrupt our democracy.

We fully agree with ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe that no one is above the constitution - but he needs to make it clear that that includes Jacob Zuma.