Malema to take Zuma to court over Nkandla
These were the final words EFF leader Julius Malema delivered in the National Assembly today, clearly dissatisfied with the way in which President Jacob Zuma answered his question on Nkandla.
Malema wanted to know whether Zuma would pay back some of the public money which had been spent on his Nkandla homestead.
EFF members of parliament (MPs) took every available chance to rise on a point of order in the almost three hours the house was in session. Shouting, throwing insults and pointing fingers were the order of the day.
Fellow opposition parties and some ANC MPs objected to the disruptions, even though some ruling party members chanted "fight, fight, fight" at one point.
Despite the rowdy behaviour, Speaker Baleka Mbete refrained from implementing new rules allowing her to eject defiant and disruptive members from the House. However, she did turn off their microphones momentarily. EFF MPs raised their voices in response, wanting to be heard.
Zuma was the picture of calm and joviality, chuckling every now and then as chaos descended on the House.
He had answered the EFF’s question on Nkandla, by saying it "was premature".
"The matter relating to the security upgrades in Nkandla is being discussed by Parliament through the ad hoc committee on the police minister’s report."
Zuma said he had responded to Parliament on this matter previously and had submitted a report to Mbete a year ago.
After patiently waiting for his turn to speak, UDM leader Bantu Holomisa asked whether Zuma was considering applying for a judicial review of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s report.
Holomisa said the House could not act as an appeal authority on a "matter that does not belong here". Zuma replied Madonsela reported to Parliament.
"She has made recommendations. One of the mistakes some members are making is to believe she made a judgment. It is not a judgement. It is a recommendation Parliament must deal with, and Parliament is seized with the issue."
He spoke over the EFF's shouts and objections.
"I will respond further to the debate around this matter once all processes have been concluded... The normal thing is to allow these processes to come to a conclusion, and then we react to that."
The ad hoc committee on Nkandla was meeting in Parliament on Thursday evening to finalise discussions before submitting its final report by Friday's deadline.
(File photo: Gallo Images)