Is parliament playing a good role?

While watching the State of Nation Address I was appalled by the acts that had unfolded on National TV.
The question that came to my mind was “how were they elected to represent the people of our country?” Parliament was set in place to represent the people of South Africa, to express the views of the people in the National Assembly. The aura that surrounds Parliament and its dignitaries is one of respect and dignity.
However, the manner in which these dignitaries presented themselves at the SONA was disorderly, disrespectful and blatantly pathetic. How do we expect our government to function at its best if it is being represented by unruly men and women? As much as freedom of expression is a sacred and well protected right in our country and the parties are entitled to speak their views, there is protocol and procedures that are to be obeyed.
The members of Parliament showed no respect to the Speaker of the House. I believe that it is important for the members of Parliament to be people who set a proper example for the youth of our country and to be role models to the youth who want to enter the political environment. The manner in which they are behaving now is not setting that example.

CLAYTON MARIE
KwaDukuza