“Each time I come here I am abused‚” President Jacob Zuma said in the National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon‚ after his scheduled question and answer time session was again disrupted by the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters.
An exasperated sounding president said‚ “Instead of answering questions‚ I am called a criminal ... a thief. This House has to do something.”
The red berets tried to stop Zuma was speaking on Tuesday and staged a walkout‚ saying they would not listen to him. This incident was close on four months after Zuma’s last appearance in the National Assembly on May 17‚ which was marred by the forceful removal of EFF MPs from the House‚ after they had also refused to be addressed by the president then.
Today‚ Zuma signalled that the heckling was difficult for him to sit through and he did not think it was fair to expect him to face people who were disrespecting the house of parliament.
“It is very difficult to me to do my constitutional duty‚” the president said.
“...If this house is not interested in me answering questions‚ then don’t call me.”