Democracy at stake in South Africa?

EFF party members were engaged in a scuffle with security officials in less than five minutes into President Jacob Zuma’s state of the nation address to parliament. Led by fire-brand leader Julius Malema, EFF parliamentarians were forcefully escorted outside the parliament building after they continuously disrupted Zuma’s speech.

Signs of trouble began earlier when reporters and other members of the opposition alleged their cell phone signals had been jammed. South African broadcast journalist and television anchor Debora Patta described the move as "outrageous".

Although the signals were restored few hours after minor protests, "it is a worrying sign" said Patta.

"One always suspected, should the ANC [African National Congress party] ever loose power in this country, they wouldn’t like it but they would accept it gracefully. Now there is a question mark over that," said Patta.

The disruption of the speech had been anticipated. Malema had warned they would insist Zuma tell parliament when he intended to pay back part of the money allegedly used for development at his private Nkandla residence.

"We want the president to answer a simple question, when is he paying the money as directed by the Public Protector," asked Malema during Zuma’s speech. He further delayed the address requesting a response from the president.

Chaos flared up as house speaker Baleka Mbete called in security officers to forcefully take Malema and his EFF cohorts outside. The largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, also walked out.

A test for South Africa’s democracy?

It’s not known whether the security men were police officers but South African journalist Patta said since armed men were called into parliament to remove the opposition, "as annoying they may have found them and as boisterous they may have been, is not good for democracy".

"The fact that the incident took place on a hallowed ground of parliament, a place that this country has fought so hard for the right to vote and the freedom of all South Africans, it is a very worrying sign," said Patta.

She however does not believe this event signifies the end of democracy for South Africa. Other institutions like the constitutional court, the entire judiciary and the media still remain robust, she maintained.

Pledge to solve problems

President Zuma proceeded with his speech vowing that his government will do all it can to tackle the country's energy crisis and economic growth.

He also vowed that his government will take measures to boost economic growth, create jobs, and tackle the country's electricity crisis among many other problems facing the nation.

"Foreign nationals will not be allowed to own land in South Africa but will be eligible for long term lease," Zuma declared.

Uninspiring speech

Leader of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Reverend Kenneth Meshoe described Zuma's speech as boring.

"Very uninspiring, I almost fell asleep for the first time. I had to go out to get fresh air," Meshoe said.

Patta criticized Zuma’s lack of recognition of popular wish for answers on the Nkandla scandal. She said the issues that the ruling ANC party wants to be discussed will not be heard until other pressing concerns are taken seriously.

But Inkatha Freedom party leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, was angry with EFF leader Julius Malema for disrupting the speech.

"It's disgusting. I think our country is really being torn to pieces and I think that the struggle for liberation didn't take place for people to play the fool like this in our country," said Buthelezi.

A DW correspondent in Johannesburg who covered the state of the nation address said many South Africans felt their hard fought democracy was being compromised. Analysts say there is no doubt that the chaos and uninspiring speech of the president has left the country's image seriously bruised and battered.