Brawl Breaks Out in South African Parliament

South Africa's political factions criticized each other on Friday Nov 14,2014 after scuffles and angry speeches in parliament ended with police entering the chamber and removing one opposition member.

The ruling party, the African National Congress, described the National Assembly as a "chaotic circus" following Thursday's uproar.

 
The opposition said the ruling camp was undermining parliamentary rules to protect President Jacob Zuma from scrutiny.

The nationally televised debate in parliament became unruly when opposition parties attempted to delay a vote absolving Zuma of wrongdoing in a scandal over more than $20 million in state spending on Nkandla, his private compound.

South African riot police clashed with opposition MPs hours after parliament absolved President 

Jacob Zuma over the use of some $23m (£14m) of state money to upgrade his private home in Nkandla.

They intervened after opposition MP Ngwanamakwetle Mashabela repeatedly called Mr Zuma a thief.


Mashabela, a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, made her comments in one of the debates that followed.
"President Zuma is a thief. He is a criminal. He is the greatest thief in the world," she said.
When she refused to withdraw the statement and refused to be removed from the chamber by an official, the riot police intervened.


Four MPs were reportedly injured in the scuffle during the late-night session.

In March, the country's corruption investigator said Mr Zuma had "unduly benefited" from the improvements.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela also accused him of unethical conduct and recommended he repay money used on non-security features in the renovation of his rural home in Nkandla, KwaZulu Natal province, which includes a swimming pool, cattle enclosure and chicken run.


But a parliamentary committee report - passed by a majority of African National Congress (ANC) MPs on ThursdayNov 13,2014 - absolved Mr Zuma of any wrongdoing.