Last night, 9th of February, the annual State of the Nation Address by South African President, Jacob Zuma, took place in Cape Town. The event was shrouded in controversy as Zuma had deployed 441 South African National Defence Force members and 5000 police officers around the parliamentary precinct in the run-up to the event. Opposition parties The Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) contested these measures, which only added to the drama on the day.
The whole of South Africa waited in anticipation for events to unfold in Parliament and what transpired was reminiscent of a bar-fight scene in a B-movie. Chaos broke out when the EFF interrupted Zuma’s speech, constantly shouting out points of order. As the EFF refused to back down they were forced out of the building by security guards (Bouncers) and the ensuing fist fight was shocking to say the least.
As the commotion played out of television screens across South Africa, it was mirrored by reaction online:
Someone said F**k you ??♂️? #SONA2017 pic.twitter.com/k528dBhdgZ
— Miss Lelo (@MsLeloB) February 9, 2017
Full EFF fight. Scary stuff!!!#SONA2017 #Sona #EFF #Malema pic.twitter.com/BVhWP36JOQ
— Chelsea Lotz (@Chelsea_Lotz) February 9, 2017
We may be separated by many factors but the nation was in joint disgust when #Zuma laughed. #SONA2017 pic.twitter.com/cIwNXZPlzc
— // (@whythots) February 10, 2017
A party that applauds the violent removal of the opposition from parliament deserves neither our vote nor our respect. #SONA2017
— Comrade Cosmos (@Raees_Noorbhai) February 9, 2017
Pepper spray, violence, swearing, name calling, screaming, cable ties, injections and our President begins by saying "Finally…" #SONA2017
— Leanne Manas (@LeanneManas) February 9, 2017
Guys, we just witnessed grown women get manhandled, if not beaten, in parliament on Live TV! And everyone in there clapped?!!!!! #SONA2017
— #OwnYourThrone? (@Boity) February 9, 2017
#SONA2017 What we are seeing inside and outside @ParliamentofRSA is such a sad indictment on our democracy.
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) February 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/marinkie_tinkie/status/829750135194259456
SONA 2017 will be remembered by all who witnessed it- for all the wrong reasons. Where does South African parliament go from here?
By Dean Workman
