Fight And Chaos In South Africa National Asembly. Jacob Zuma Is A Thief.

• published: 15 Nov 2014
• views: 182488

I DON’T WANT TO BE TOUCHED. Mashabela refers to President Jacob Zuma as a "thief" and a "criminal." Members of the police's public order policing unit stormed into the National Assembly chamber on Thursday night causing a scuffle in which several punches were thrown. The drama unfolded after Economic Freedom Fighters MP Ngwanamakwetle Mashabela refused to leave the podium when she was ordered to do so by House chairman Cedrick Frolick. Mashabela had called President Jacob Zuma a "thief" during a debate on the Grand Inga Hydro Project, and refused to withdraw her remarks. Mashabela would not be moved when serjeant-at-arms Regina Mohlomi tried to escort her from the podium. Police arrived minutes later - tugging at Mashabela - who could be heard shouting "I don't want to be touched". MPs from opposition benches, expressed outrage, and jumped to Mashabela's defence. Fists started flying when police pushed and shoved MPs from the Democratic Alliance and the EFF who intervened. As the policemen emerged from the chamber with a clearly shaken Mashabela, members of Parliament's protection services started scolding the officers. The officers were told they had no jurisdiction over the National Assembly chamber. It remained unclear on who's instructions the police were acting. DA chief whip John Steenhuisen, who was in the middle of the scuffle inside the chamber, expressed outrage. "Four of my [DA] members, two of them women, have been assaulted by police. They are Terri Stander, Gordon Mackay, Denise Robinson and Dean Macpherson," Steenhuisen said.