Chaos erupted in parliament as the sitting commenced.
As Zuma was getting ready to deliver his speech, an EFF member interrupted him but was ordered to take a seat by Baleka Mbete, speaker of parliament.
Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota made a point of order and insisted Zuma step down because he broke his oath of office.
Mbete orderd Lekota to leave the chamber and all Cope members left the chamber.
EFF members continued to disrupt the president as he attempted to deliver his speech and kept shouting ‘Zupta must fall’, referring to Zuma and the Gupta family.
The EFF party left the house, dancing and chanting ‘Zupta must fall’.
Opposition parties regularly made odd comments as Zuma continued with the SoNA.
Springs and Kwatsaduza residents took to Springs Advertiser and African Reporter’s social media sites to have their say:
- Gerald Smit: “Expected.”
- Quintin Roux: “I don’t really know what to say… And megawatts.”
- Kenneth Magadla: “A small bunch who are a disgrace to the world. A small group who undermine our heritage, constitution, parliament.”
- Lindi Lasindwa: “Rules are rules and they must be respected by all. Thank you to presiding officers Baleka and Thandi Modise for keeping the order. Shame Lekota, shame.”
- Kate Ngema: “Our country is becoming a joke that some of us entertain ourselves with. Imagine, people not worried about hearing the plan for the way forward. Surprised to hear a colleague laughing and saying ‘I enjoyed what was happening.’ Really, I am worried about our children’s future.”
- Nonku Zamantungwa Khumalo: “Eish, some parties made us a laughing stock to other countries.”
- Ntombikayise Malaza: “EFF was boring.”
