The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) failed to read the solemn mood in Parliament on Thursday‚ when the party found itself alone in its calls for President Jacob Zuma to answer questions about when he will “pay back the money” on nonsecurity upgrades to his Nkandla home.

Thursday’s session was held to complete last year’s August 21 sitting‚ which was abandoned when it descended into chaos and scuffles broke out among MPs.

Although the EFF received support from other opposition parties‚ in particular the Democratic Alliance (DA)‚ during subsequent disciplinary hearings against 22 of its 24 MPs‚ the “Fighters” found limited backers during Thursday’s session.

EFF leader Julius Malema‚ backed by chief whip Floyd Shivambu‚ and MPs Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Hlengiwe Maxon‚ insisted the session start with the supplementary questions that were supposed to have been answered first.

However‚ speaker Baleka Mbete referred to an agreement among the chief whips of all the parties that the rules of the legislature state that when a session is interrupted‚ they continue with the list of formally asked questions and not the supplementary ones at the next sitting.

Mr Malema interrupted Ms Mbete when she wanted to put African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Stone Sizani’s motion to the house that this would be how the session would proceed. Mr Malema objected so strongly‚ Ms Mbete threatened to evict him.

DA chief whip John Steenhuisen stepped in and said his party also wanted to question Mr Zuma about Nkandla‚ but parliamentary rules stated the session continue with the formal written questions.

Mr Ndlozi objected to Mr Steenhuisen being recognised to speak by Ms Mbete and asked: “Is the speaker afraid of white people?“

He also said he felt “racially segregated” in the house.

The ANC motion was put to a vote‚ and passed by 318 votes for‚ while 18 MPs voted against and three abstained. The tally showed that almost all the opposition parties voted for the ANC motion‚ with only the EFF voting against it.