SONA 2017: Fists, pepper spray and insults
Catcalls, pepper spray, fistfights and calls to honour the Esidimeni 94 marked the start of a State of the Nation Address (SONA) that was doomed from the start.
After an hour of points of order and points of privilege being raised, the presiding officers finally lost patience with the EFF, who were violently removed from the National Assembly by the infamous white shirts.
The drama started as soon as President Jacob Zuma entered the chamber, with EFF MPs branding him a 'tsotsi'.
EFF MP Floyd Shivambu kicked off the, by now, annual ritual with complaints about security, but attention moved to President Zuma.
"Mr Zuma, please leave baba. Please leave. You don't belong here. You are a constitutional delinquent," said the EFF's Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.
Shortly before EFF MPs were dragged out, party leader Julius Malema lashed out at speaker Baleka Mbete, saying she is prepared to protect the President at all costs.
"Your conduct has failed you to be a candidate for president, because you are irrational, you are impatient, you are partisan. Even your own people have dumped you," said Malema.
WATCH: EFF and security clash in the National Assembly as the Red Berets are forced out pic.twitter.com/a55tdXtrfy
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) February 9, 2017
The DA soon followed the EFF out of the door, also lashing out at President Zuma and saying the level of violence in the chamber is unacceptable.
"We cannot stand for a violation of the constitution!" yelled Maimane.
DA MPs leaving the National Assembly as other MPs swear at them #SONA2017 pic.twitter.com/I4lLa2v2wP
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) February 9, 2017
After the scuffles inside Parliament, the action continued outside.
Blows were traded as EFF MPs were literally dragged outside.
EARLIER: EFF MPs forcefully removed from the National Assembly as the media looks on #SONA2017 pic.twitter.com/Y1Vb1k1jCi
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) February 9, 2017
Malema addressed the media, saying the party is prepared to fight to the bitter end as it won't allow Jacob Zuma to go about his business and ignore damning Constitutional Court findings against him pertaining to his breach of office.
"We are prepared to leave this Parliament in coffin, standing for the truth. We are not going to be intimidated by soldiers, by police, by criminals," said Malema.
Maimane said they will now pursue legal action.
"They pulled out teargas, they protected Jacob Zuma using the military and police and it became quite clear that Parliament is a broken institution," said Maimane.
The Speaker of the National Council of Provinces, Thandi Modise, has confirmed the use of pepper spray on the public gallery is being investigated.
"An incident which cannot be classified as anything other than a breach of security," said Modise.