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1st LD: S. African president interrupted in parliament address

Xinhua, February 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

South African President Jacob Zuma was interrupted in Parliament on Thursday during his annual State of the Nation Address as an MP of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) rose to ask when Zuma could pay back the money spent on the security upgrades in his private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province.

EFF leader Julius Malema pressed Zuma to answer the question, but Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete turned them down, saying this was not the session to ask question and accused the MPs of abusing their power. Mbete asked Malema to leave the chamber, but Malema refused.

Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete ordered security forces to expel rebellion MPs as Parliament was plunged into chaos.

It's a constitutional violation to have police in the National Assembly, Mmusi Maimane, Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Alliance, said to the applause of some MPs. Endi