{"id":292714,"date":"2017-02-10T10:35:52","date_gmt":"2017-02-10T10:35:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=292714"},"modified":"2017-02-10T10:35:52","modified_gmt":"2017-02-10T10:35:52","slug":"fighting-mars-zumas-state-of-nation-address","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/02\/fighting-mars-zumas-state-of-nation-address\/","title":{"rendered":"Fighting mars Zuma’s State of Nation address"},"content":{"rendered":"
Punches have been thrown in South Africa’s parliament as opposition MPs tried to disrupt the State of the Nation address by President Jacob Zuma.<\/p>\n
Members of the radical Economic Freedom Fighters’ party (EFF), all dressed in red, scuffled with security guards who ejected them from the chamber.<\/p>\n
Mr Zuma had twice got to his feet but was shouted down by EFF MPs.<\/p>\n
Outside parliament, police used stun grenades to disperse opposition and government supporters.<\/p>\n
Mr Zuma has been dogged by allegations of corruption and cronyism and widely criticised for his handling of the economy.<\/p>\n
Previous addresses by him have been marred by MPs demanding his resignation.<\/p>\n
As Mr Zuma entered parliament in Cape Town on Thursday he was met by chants of “thief” by EFF MPs, who included their firebrand leader Julius Malema.<\/p>\n
Members of the governing African National Congress (ANC) countered them by chanting “ANC, ANC”.<\/p>\n
Amid raised voices and chaotic scenes, Speaker Baleka Mbete tried to deal with repeated interruptions and procedural questions.<\/p>\n