Fights break out in S. Africa parliament – Watch

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Fights break out in S. Africa parliament – Watch

8:19 CAT | 07 Nov 2018

Picture: SABC

Prior to the open fist fight, the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Chief Whip, Mr John Steenhuisen, called EFF members “VBS looters” referring to alleged theft of money from the VBS bank.

EFF MPs reacted by calling him a “white racist”. A brawl then ensued.

Insult each other

Videos of the exchange of words and the brawl have been shared on Twitter:

WATCH: EFF’s Julius Malema and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi confront DA’s John Steenhuisen in Parliament. #eNCANow Courtesy #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/6yqN25Z8kW

— eNCA (@eNCA) November 6, 2018

This fight escalated from insults to a bottle being thrown and then pulling and tugging. Started with Agang MP Tlouamma saying whites should be allowed to speak in House. Hard to tell what happened next #RamaphosaQandA pic.twitter.com/1AJ8rXol7j

— Annika Larsen (@AnnikaLarsen1) November 6, 2018

The House chairperson, Ms Thoko Didiza, pleaded with the lawmakers to be orderly.

“None of us have the right to insult each other… Honourable members can you please allow me to run the house”, a visibly angry Ms Didiza said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa was forced to take his seat as Ms Didiza suspended proceedings and called the sergeant of arms to stop the physical fights.

One people

Proceedings later resumed with the president answering questions again but not before Ms Didiza ordered two opposition MPs to be removed from the house.

President Ramaphosa pleaded with the MPs to stop the race-based fights.

“We cannot go back to that horrible past that we have had… We are a non-racial democracy. However painful it may be. We cannot go back to that racism. We are one people,” President Ramaphosa said.