9 memorable quotes from Sona debate

The debate on President Jacob Zuma's state of the nation address was a lively affair, with MPs trading strong - and sometimes hilarious - statements. JAN-JAN JOUBERT gives examples:

1) A Broken Man

"Honourable President, you are not an honourable man. You are a broken man, presiding over a broken society."

- DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane.

2) A Troubled Man

"He is a broken young black man in the broken blue sea of white conservative males. He is utterly undermined. He does not have the support of his party, especially the conservative white males. We saw him last year breaking down in this parliament after his instructions to the DA caucus were broken down and defied by his colleagues. He is a troubled man."

- ANC MP Bongani Mkongi, reacting to Maimane.

RODGER BOSCH/POOL 

3) Democracy in Danger

"The brute force of the state won, and the hearts of our nation broke. We knew, at that very moment, that our democratic order was in grave danger. And what did you do? You laughed."

- Maimane, referring to the president's reaction to police entering the National Assembly.

STbuth-14-02-2015-14-02-08-66-.jpgEsa Alexander 

4) Devil Laughs

"You can laugh until the devil has laughed out his lungs in hell!"

- IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi, irritated with ANC MPs.

POOL 

5) A Good Story

"While you are telling a so-called good story here, the children of Setswetla sleep side by side with rats. Whatever it takes, and however long it takes, by whatever revolutionary means, we will take over this country with the aim of total liberation and emancipation."

- EFF leader Julius Malema.

6) Not Revolutionary

"Do not start a journey if you do not know where it might end. That's not revolutionary. Because if the journey ends in a wrong place, we're actually all in trouble. That's some revolutionary advice, Honourable Malema, and we know what we're talking about. We know where we've been in this country. We ask that you behave."

- Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande.

7) Finish It

"There's nothing we can't finish. We'll finish it; we can guarantee you. For the next five years, this is what we'll confront you [with]. We're here. We're not invited by you."

- Malema, reacting to Nzimande.

8) Jan van Riebeeck

"Where do South Africa's problems come from? The honourable president says: 'A man called Jan van Riebeeck arrived here and that was the start of the trouble in this country.' I can prove the president is wrong - but what did he say in plain language? He said when white people arrived here, the trouble started. What is the understanding of ordinary ANC supporters? They understand that if one gets rid of the white man, all problems are solved. Get rid of the cockroaches, then the problems go away."

- Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder.

9) Rainbow Nation

"We're all South African citizens, we're a rainbow nation and nobody will chase you away. We'll fight against those who will say so, so there must be no fear at all. I will never be racist, I fight against those who suppress the minorities."

- President Jacob Zuma, in reaction to Mulder.