Political parties taking part in the State of the Nation debate again hammered on weaknesses in President Jacob Zuma’s armour – such as Nkandla and the recent upheaval in the finance ministry. But this time, ANC ministers took out the big guns to defend the ruling party.
The National Assembly was slightly more rowdy during the second day of the debate. Opposition parties made a point of reminding the President of his recent mistakes.
The Democratic Alliance spokesperson on Finance David Maynier says unless something meaningful is done, the country is facing another down grading. But Energy and Economic Development ministers, Tina Joemat-Petterson and Ebrahim Patel, came out guns blazing.
But soon proceedings ran off the rails. COPE leader, Mosiuoa Lekota, called out factionalism in the ANC – a word that was quickly declared as unparliamentary by the House chairperson, Papi Tau. DA chief whip John Steenhuisen jumped in
As calm was restored, Lekota could finish his speech, during which he called on Parliament’s presiding officers to take their duties seriously.
The leaders of the ACDP, Kenneth Meshoe, and FF-plus Pieter Mulder, called on the ruling party to lead by example in combating racism.
Watch full proceedings on the video below:
– By Zalene Merrington
