LIVE | Malema - 'The president knows I would never harm him'

“Ndiyekeni let me deal with my mess.”

This was said by the Parliament speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula before calling on security marshals to remove the EFF members from the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday, 9 February.

This comes after the members called for a point of order, disrupting President Cyril Ramaphosa from delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

EFF leader Julius Malema was the first member to rise on a point of order.

He said they cannot allow Ramaphosa to address the Parliament since he took it to court.

“Effectively speaker, you are the first respondent, so he’s taken you to court. He has declared a motion of no confidence in his own Parliament and taken it to court. So, he shouldn’t be allowed to speak,” he said.

Mapisa-Nqakula dismissed the point of order saying, it was irrelevant to the sitting of the day.

She said the members who are busy calling for a point of order were not disrespecting the Parliament but the country as a whole.

“South Africans what to hear the state of the Nation Address. From now on I will not take any point of orders unless they relate to the proceedings of the day,” she said.

Malema said he raised this matter and would like the Speaker to consider it and not dismiss it by saying they are here to listen to one item.

“The rules wouldn’t have allowed for points of order if that was the case. The speaker is out of order in this regard,” he said.

Mapisa-Nqakula said: “It is in our interest to listen to the State of the Nation address. Nothing is stopping the President from addressing us,” she said.

After the members were harshly removed from the Parliament, the Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen told the Speaker before her instructing the security officers to enter the chamber they had already entered and armed.

He said please ensure the rules of Parliament are upheld in the future.

“I’m not saying make a ruling now, but please have a look at the footage,” he said.

Free Front Plus member Pieter Groenewald congratulated the Speaker for the presidential guard and what they did.

Speaking to the Media outside, Malema said they plan to lay charges for what has happened.

He said the security detail that kicked them out, were not suitable for Parliament but were those who deal with riots or serious crimes.

“Police responsibility is outside Parliament not inside,” he said.

To deal more effectively and urgently with the challenges that confront us, I will appoint a Minister of Electricity in the Presidency to assume full responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the electricity crisis response, including the work of the National Energy Crisis.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo: MARCO LONGARI/ Getty Images

Photo: Morapedi Mashashe

SA President Cyril Ramaphosa arriving at Cape Town City Hall to deliver the State of The Nation address. Photo: Morapedi Mashashe

Praise singer Msawenkosi Nqobile Duma walked the red carpet as they arrived at Cape Town City Hall. Photo:Morapedi Mashash

Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka walked the red carpet as they arrived at Cape Town City Hall. Photo: Morapedi Mashashe

Supra Obakeng Mahumapelo. Members of SA Government, politicians and special guests walked the red carpet as they arrived at Cape Town City Hall to witness the State of the Nation Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo by Morapedi Mashashe

Members of SA Government, politicians and special guests walked the red carpet as they arrived at Cape Town City Hall to witness the State of the Nation Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo by Morapedi Mashashe

Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota. Members of SA Government, politicians and special guests walked the red carpet as they arrived at Cape Town City Hall to witness the State of the Nation Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo by Morapedi Mashashe

Maite Nkoana-MashabaneMembers of SA Government, politicians and special guests walked the red carpet as they arrived at Cape Town City Hall to witness the State of the Nation Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo by Morapedi Mashashe

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POLICE Minister Bheki Cele has commanded all law enforcement agencies to do their job without fear or favour.

Cele was addressing members of the South African Police Service, Cape Town Metro police, South African National Defence Force, National Traffic Police and Western Cape Provincial Traffic Police who were deployed to keep order ahead of the 2023 State of the Nation Address (Sona).

“We must make sure that today, anyone who chooses to break the law has chosen the wrong day,” said Cele, adding that their duty was to enforce the law.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his address at 7pm this evening at the Cape Town City Hall.

For more on the story click HERE

[WATCH] Police Minister Gen Bheki addresses @SAPoliceService @SANDF_ZA @CityofCT Metro police & law enforcement agencies National Traffic Police, WC Provincial Traffic Police & Traffic services & Law enforcement officers deployed in and around Cape Town ahead of #SONA2023 pic.twitter.com/UWraMuz0QS

Andiswa Ndlela said she will be tuning in and hopes that the president will address issues of unemployment and the age cut-off in employment programmes for the government.

“This issue that people who are over 35 cannot get jobs in the government needs to be cancelled because we are suffering. We cannot be excluded from getting jobs but be wanted when it’s time to vote,” she said.

She said: “I also want the president to stop load shedding. We are tired of it,” she said.

Unlike the previous years, the 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA) finds the country sharing the same sentiments of frustration and lack of trust when it comes to the government.

Several households are bound not to be able to watch the SONA due to the continuous power outages.

South Africa is currently experiencing up to six hours of load shedding per day since October and this has cost the country billions of rands, with business having to close shop and people losing their jobs.

For more on the story click HERE