Aftermath of the Sona walkout

Politicians in Johannesburg have discussed the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) walkout of the State of the Nation Address (Sona) on 12 February.

DA Member of Parliament walked out after Speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete failed to answer a question on whether it was police officers who escorted Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MPs out of Parliament, or Parliament security.

This after EFF MPs interrupted President Jacob Zuma’s speech to ask him to pay back the money on his Nkandla home.

“I didn’t plan to disturb or leave the house… calling in armed police was a violation of the Constitution that the DA cannot tolerate,” said DA Parliamentary Leader Mmusi Maimane, who is a Weltevreden Park resident.

Kelland resident Graham de Kock is the Chief Whip for the DA Caucus in Johannesburg.

He said that the walkout “sent a very strong message to the ANC that it cannot use its control of the Organs of State and its majority to ride rough-shod over the constitutional principles of the right to be heard, and the separation of powers between the Executive and the Legislature.”

De Kock added that bringing the “police” into the chamber when there was no threat to life or property “went to the core of disrespect for the sanctity of the chamber and freedom of speech”.

“There are [now] more questions than answers,” he concluded. “More uncertainty than hope, more weight for citizens to bear than light to guide them through tough times.”

Before the Sona, Maimane announced that DA MPs were not going to attend the official dinner as it was a “fashion show”.

Qeustions were sent to Wellington Ntsodo, administrator at the ANC Parliamentary Constituency Office in Bordeaux, and comment is awaited.