Parliament – More opposition parties are on Wednesday expected to express their outrage at President Jacob Zuma’s decision to deploy the army for the State of the Nation Address.
Zuma announced on Tuesday that more than 440 soldiers will be deployed in Parliament to assist the police to maintain law and order.
But the DA said it wanted a meeting with Speaker Baleka Mbete over Zuma’s securitisation of Parliament.
DA chief whip John Steenhuisen said they are outraged by Zuma’s decision to send in the army for the SONA.
The SONA has been marred by disruption inside the House by the EFF over the last three years. Outside the Parliamentary precinct there have been protests by civil society groups and opposition parties.
This week Zuma decided that the army should be roped in to help the police. Disruption in the Chamber has led to the employment of former police officers to remove the EFF.
The EFF promised Zuma he would not have peace in Parliament as long as he remained in office.
The party said Zuma must resign because of a number of scandals around him.
Steenhuisen said the army deployment was unwarranted and this was a drastic step by Zuma.
He said the president has crossed the line, and he cannot deploy the army in Parliament.