Sona 2017: Zuma wraps up Sona after night of violent chaos and obscenities

The sitting of the 2017 State of the Nation Address (Sona) got under way by 7pm on Thursday evening, as scheduled.

The Democratic Alliance MPs carried banners which read, “Remember the Esidimeni 94”. Inside the sitting, the party’s John Steenhuisen called for a minute of silence to remember the 94 mentally ill patients who died after they were transferred from Life Esidimeni to other facilities.

Steenhuisen call for moment of silence for #Esidemeni94 puts #Baleka in a bind: a no means ANC doesn't care. Yes is capitulation. #SONA2017

— Justice Malala (@justicemalala) February 9, 2017

Speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete said it would be done at the next sitting.

Steenhuisen call for moment of silence for #Esidemeni94 puts #Baleka in a bind: a no means ANC doesn't care. Yes is capitulation. #SONA2017

— Justice Malala (@justicemalala) February 9, 2017

Zuma prepared to speak at 7.20pm but was interrupted by the EFF.

Speaker has called on President Jacob Zuma to address the joint sitting #SONA2017

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) February 9, 2017

View the gallery below to see MPs arriving earlier in the evening:

See tweets and details of the proceedings:

Malema: "That the majority voted against his removal doesn't mean the majority is right. Majority voted against Nkandla!"#SONA2017

— Scapegoat (@AndiMakinana) February 9, 2017

Gardee's point of order relates to Constitutional Court's #Nkandla judgment. Failure of Parliament to exercise oversight. @News24 #SONA2017

— Adriaan Basson (@AdriaanBasson) February 9, 2017

https://twitter.com/acfick72/status/829743731616129024

#SONA2017 Modise dismissing points of order; more come. This was all predictable. Zuma sitting hands in his lap. 30m delayed now GD

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 9, 2017

#SONA2017 Modise rejects all point of orders. She looks terribly annoyed.

— Khayelihle Rafiq Khumalo-James Jnr (@KhayaJames) February 9, 2017

https://twitter.com/RonaldPhiri01/status/829744373327880193

Pres Zuma tried to resume… but they're having none of it #SONA2017 pic.twitter.com/6gu5JbBITJ

— Katy Katopodis (@KatyKatopodis) February 9, 2017

Almost 40 minutes into #SONA2017 but #Zuma has not been able to say anything because of disruptions by #EFF

— Sandton Chronicle (@Sandton_News) February 9, 2017

EFF spokesperson @MbuyiseniNdlozi says 2 police officers in house should leave; also asks Zuma to leave. @News24 #SONA2017

— Adriaan Basson (@AdriaanBasson) February 9, 2017

Thandi Modise says "can we do the right thing".
There are 441 soldiers in Parly.
There are cops inside Parly chamber.
It's a joke.#SONA2017

— Justice Malala (@justicemalala) February 9, 2017

Ndlozi shouts, mayhem in NA again: President is a Constitutional delinquent, it is him who should leave this House, not us #SONA2017

— carien du plessis (@carienduplessis) February 9, 2017

#Shivambu: No where in the rule book does it state that point of orders will be ignored. You must recognise a point of order! #SONA2017

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) February 9, 2017

A large contingent of riot police gathered outside parliament when it seemed inevitable the EFF are about to be kicked out.

MT @BongaDlulane: #SONA2017 outside the house. The police are here. In gear and all pic.twitter.com/LuvJ9eD6ti

— eNCA (@eNCA) February 9, 2017

The parliamentary protection services “white shirts” arrived to escort the EFF out of parliament. They were resisted, but overwhelmed the 25 EFF MPs rapidly, despite some of them escaping to other areas of the National Assembly.

#SONA2017 Malema is up, "I'm not going anywhere" LIVE >> https://t.co/dueJDKtUw9 pic.twitter.com/PtLqOYu3GK

— eNCA (@eNCA) February 9, 2017

There was clapping from the ANC benches at their departure.

Speaker Baleka Mbete apologised to “our guests” for “this type of drama that has become the hallmark of how we deal with one another when we differ.

The DA MPs have refused to be addressed by President Jacob Zuma. Led by leader Mmusi Maimane, and left parliament on their own.

Steenhuisen: That man has broken South Africa and you are breaking parliament.

Preach 🙌🏽 #SONA2017

— Karabo Mokgoko 🦄🌞 (@Karabo_Mokgoko) February 9, 2017

Speaker Baleka Mbete ordered them out of the National Assembly. There were cries of “fuck you!” from the ANC benches, while another shouted at Mmusi Maimane calling him a “sellout” and a “racist”, along with other DA MPs.

Stun grenades now discharged #SONA2017

— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) February 9, 2017

Zuma laughed a number of times and could be heard laughing while the opposition was being manhandled.

And all the while Jacob Zuma sits as if he is playing the mannequin challenge. Quite an apt interpretation of his presidency. #SONA2017

— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) February 9, 2017

The speaker said they would investigate a report that someone had been “pepper-sprayed” in the gallery.

Just after 8.20pm, President Jacob Zuma started delivering his state of the nation address, while chaos raged outside in the parliamentary precinct. His speech ended an hour later than expected.

– Caxton News Service