Editorial: Public deserves better than the circus in Parliament

After a week of drama in the National Assembly, where MPs squared off and insulted one another without any intention of engaging with the priorities of the state of the nation address (Sona), President Cyril Ramaphosa finally restored order on Thursday.

The level of debate and the behaviour of the MPs had gone to the gutters since last Thursday when the EFF delayed the start of the Sona proceedings by almost two hours.

MPs from the EFF and the ANC were the most guilty of playing childish politics, trying to outmuscle one another by demonstrating who was the most powerful and influential in Parliament.

It reached the point where EFF leader Julius Malema pointed to ANC MPs, calling them fools and claiming cheaply that he was in charge.

In return, the ANC MPs spent a long time trying to prove he was not in charge.

When ANC MP Boy Mamabolo crudely accused Malema of abusing his wife, without providing proof, other ANC MPs joined in, demanding that he prove his innocence.

Neither the ANC chief whip, Pemmy Majodina, nor the presiding officer, Amos Masondo, saw the need to intervene and steer the discussion towards substantive issues of governance and away from personalised attacks.

It was only when the same allegation of violence against women was raised against the president that they jumped from their seats.

This was clearly partisan behaviour which the ANC has got away with for years and no longer regards as wrong.

The presiding officers could have nipped it in the bud, but missed the opportunity.

We have been building towards this for a long time now.

The Sona speeches are becoming more bland, with very little that is new. The MPs are attracted to the fashion battle on the red carpet.

Inside the House the decorum of the occasion has long been dispensed with.

A few MPs try to get on with the act and interrogate the president’s speech, but they are drowned out by the noise.

The EFF carries a lot of the blame for the degeneration as they try to milk the Sona to make minor points.

But it is the fact that the majority party has allowed itself to be dragged into the mud and engage in puerile battles that is deeply disappointing.

All of the parties now have a whole year to introspect and decide if this is the circus they want to serve the South African public at the beginning of next year.

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