The best bits of Zuma’s budget vote weren’t in his speech

President Jacob Zuma may have been delivering the presidency’s budget vote in the National Assembly on Wednesday, but that didn’t stop parliamentarians from heckling him, or journalists from finding more interesting things to tweet about.

From ANC MP Lindiwe Sisulu’s chocolate to Zuma appearing to nod off during his deputy’s address, here are the more entertaining moments of today’s Parliament events:

As usual DA MPs were like yapping Chihuahuas, and heckled Zuma right from the beginning.

Without mention of the weekend’s leaked Gupta emails, Zuma said a probe into state capture would help “recover the facts and remove rumours”.

READ: Gupta emails confirm family’s extravagant Dubai palace

“What has caused a delay is the manner the former Public Protector directed the inquiry to be done, that infringes on the rights of the president,” he said.

“It will cause problems...” he said, with a Democratic Alliance MP interjecting in the characteristic pause in Zuma’s speech: “For you!”

Undeterred, Zuma explained that he felt it would be a problem if the Chief Justice appointed the commission as former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela directed, because it would create a precedent, and it undermined the principle of separation of powers.

“We want you in the tjoekie [behind bars]!” DA chief whip John Steenhuisen interjected.

Zuma may have tried to avoid the issues, but opposition parliamentarians were sure to bring his “Dubai exit plan” into Parliament.

And DA leader Mmusi Maimane’s failed trip to Zambia, which saw him being deported back to South Africa, ensured that he got his share of attention.

"Zambia!” yelled the ANC members of Parliament when the DA leader stepped up to the podium.

Deputy minister for national planning and monitoring in the Presidency, Buti Manamela, quipped that Maimane had “polished and multiple English accents”.

As Maimane listed the “missed opportunities” that could have seen the ANC remove Zuma from his position, ANC MPs heckled him, asking him about Helen Zille, who caused a stir with controversial tweets about colonialism. Many people believed she should be disciplined for her comments.

Some MPs, like Sisulu were prepared for a drop in blood sugar:

Another MP who received a special mention from journalists covering the event was Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, who not only pitched up, but arrived only 45 minutes late.

The quote of the day went to the IFP’s Liezl van der Merwe, who blurted out: “You must listen, the president is speaking,” as Cyril Ramaphosa stepped up to the podium.

When push came to shove, the day’s shenanigans appeared to be too much for some people.