[imagesource: Esa Alexander/Sunday Times]

Did we expect anything less?

Every time South African MPs gather, ostensibly to debate important decisions that affect the lives of millions of South Africans, what should be a debate turns into a pre-school sandpit.

Name-calling, allegations, grandstanding, a toddler dressed in red saying he has the place by the scrotum – you know, the usual.

The dust is only now settling on the events of SONA (shocker – the EFF made a scene and then walked out), and the same MPs gathered once more for the SONA debate.

It all started with a question about whether or not EFF leader Julius Malema abuses his wife, reports TimesLIVE:

Boy Mamabolo’s political tactic only served to plunge the national assembly into yet another chaotic sitting as ANC and EFF MPs engaged in an hour-long shouting match that led to counter-allegations of women abuse against President Cyril Ramaphosa…

Mamabolo and Malema, both from the Limpopo township of Seshego, are former political allies now turned foes who served together in the youth league.

Mamabolo put the question to Malema while he was speaking in parliament during a debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address.

“You are abusing your wife. We want you to stand here in front of the nation and assure us. So my question to you is, are you abusing your wife?” asked Mamabolo.

Malema chose to ignore Mamabolo, and carried on with his speech, but was interrupted by the ever-present cries of ‘point of order’ from so-called ‘honourable members’.

Maybe the word ‘members’ found its way into Juju’s skull, because he then quipped about how he has ANC members “by the scrotum”.

All within the first 25 seconds of the clip below. Look at how chuffed he is with himself:

Like I said, playground sandpit stuff.

Let’s touch on that bit about allegations of President Ramaphosa abusing his ex-wife:

Malema also made a counter-allegation against Ramaphosa, saying he had abused his late ex-wife Nomazizi Mtshotshisa.

He claimed Mtshotshisa used to complain to former president Jacob Zuma about Ramaphosa’s alleged abuse.

“President Zuma can confirm that Nomazizi used to complain to president Zuma about being abused by President [Ramaphosa],” said a bold Malema.

“You’ve started with the wrong one, you bring nonsense, I give you nonsense.”

I can’t argue with the last sentence.

Spoiler alert – none of these men gives a single f*ck about gender-based violence, and are tossing those words around in the hopes of scoring cheap political points with supporters.

After he refused to withdraw his remarks about Ramaphosa’s alleged abuse, Juju was ordered to leave the house.

I’ll pretend to be shocked for 1,5 seconds.

From the 12-minute mark below, the toddler-in-chief leaves the room:

In case you missed it, Malema and his MPs called ANC MPs “Satan” on the way out, and they responded by calling EFF MPs Juju’s bodyguards.

All in all, nothing was achieved, other than another public desecration of our political institutions and more taxpayer money being pissed away.

The SONA debate continues today, in case you care.

Perhaps next year they can save us the theatrics, money, and national humiliation, and host it over Skype.

[source:timeslive]