Come answer questions, Zuma told

Both the DA and the Economic Freedom Fighters said President Jacob Zuma was required by parliamentary rules to answer oral questions by the opposition.

DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane said yesterday that he had requested an urgent meeting with Zuma.

Said Maimane: "I can no longer abide President Zuma's failure to deal with, or provide any leadership on, the growing number of issues of serious concern in South Africa.

"Most pressing among these issues is the president's own refusal to appear before parliament to answer a full session of oral questions, as he has failed to do for a full 12 months. The rules of parliament have been broken by the president.

"In doing so, South Africa is left with the impression that the president disregards the role of parliament and disregards the people of South Africa who elected parliament."

The EFF added its voice to yesterday's motion that Zuma account to parliament.

Further controversy embroiled the parliamentary investigation into whether EFF members were guilty of misconduct on August 21 when they called on Zuma to "pay back the money" for the Nkandla upgrades.

To the shock of opposition members, evidence leader Randall van Voore began reading his closing arguments before all the evidence had been heard.

Despite strong objections by the DA, EFF and the United Democratic Movement, ANC MP and committee chairman Lemias Mashile allowed Van Voore to continue.

EFF MP Diliza Twala said National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete, State Security Minister David Mahlobo and Telecommunications and Postal Services Minister Siyabonga Cwele had not been cross-examined.

Mashile said the committee had reached consensus on which witnesses should be called, a point hotly contested by Twala and DA MP Annelie Lotriet.

Lotriet said that parliamentary inquiries must be reasonable, fair, legal and transparent - and that "regardless of who was charged, due process has to be followed" .