#ZumaQandA: DA walks out of Parliament after verbal scuffle

South Africa may have expected a relatively smooth question and answer session between President Jacob Zuma and the rest of Parliament today, after the EFF’s absence from the House. But, nope.

The Q&A session, conducted Thursday afternoon, required the president to answer a number of questions posed by member of the House, including rising poverty, the appointment of a SAPS national commissioner, and climate change.

President Jacob #Zuma is at the National Assembly to field oral questions. #ZumaQandA

Questions to the President: pic.twitter.com/WkmOaZU5Cd

— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) November 2, 2017

But DA leader Mmusi Maimane had another question in mind.

Posing a query regarding payments received by the president, Maimane felt that the answer he received wasn’t quite satisfactory.

“I did not receive payments from private individuals or companies during my tenure as president,” Zuma stated.

An argument between Maimane, DA chief whip John Steenhuisen, and deputy Speaker of Parliament Lechesa Tsenoli, then ensued.

While Tsenoli confirmed that President Zuma did in fact answer the question, the DA members entirely disagreed. And so did much of social media.

#ZumaQandA Zuma says if he says how much he’s spent in legal fees “it will look like I’m running around doing court cases”. pic.twitter.com/Z1fZrjUw0E

— Lezanne (@Lizira00) November 2, 2017

Jacob Zuma just lied to Parliament again. Blatantly. There are bank and tax records proving this. But who will retrieve them? #ZumaQandA

— Max du Preez (@MaxduPreez) November 2, 2017

Zuma can’t be serious? Even after Nkandla, he doesn’t keep a record of his finances and what the state spends on him?! #ZumaQandA pic.twitter.com/RTPmYJpdd4

— Normal Girl (@PoeletjoM) November 2, 2017

#ZumaQandA
Is it “at the expense of the state” or “at the expense of the tax payer”???? pic.twitter.com/4XWjjcvHnc

— Bae 💕 (@SnobRSA) November 2, 2017

#ZumaQandA began trending on Twitter across South Africa, dispelling doubts that the country was tiring of political chatter.

For those not wondering about payments, they turned to Twitter for advice on new Zumarisms.

“South Africans are not born criminals, its social pressure that makes them to become crimes” JG Zuma#ZumaQandA pic.twitter.com/g4ex8stHPJ

— SODAMAN😎 (@I_Am_KI_Ndlovu) November 2, 2017

Dear Tweeps. Kindly define “meandos” for me 🤔#ZumaQandA pic.twitter.com/cFNZgrRy3p

— Terri Noxolo Stander (@TerriStander) November 2, 2017

Me trying to figure out what meandos is pic.twitter.com/j17dlXQcnQ

— ReAl CJ (@91CJJR) November 2, 2017

But some viewers just couldn’t deal with the constant infighting in Parliament — which has now almost become a crude meme.

#ZumaQandA always turns to playground… Disgusting

— GAMBU MFANAFUTHI®™ (@GambuMfanafuthi) November 2, 2017

Political figures beyond the House also voiced their opinions on Twitter.

DA spokesperson Phumzile van Damme weighed in on the entire session.

Today is Jacob Zuma’s very last Oral Questions session in Parliament as ANC President. I wish it was his last as State President. #ZumaQandA

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) November 2, 2017

While SAFTU’s Zwelinzima Vavi aired his views by employing a cartoon or two.

Now he is pushing to be a judge in his own case – a referee and a player at the same time #statecapture pic.twitter.com/F7Em4fAGQU

— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) November 2, 2017

And although it was also absent from Parliament, chatter regarding the EFF was also common. And particularly creative.

The EFF today lead a march to the Israeli embassy in Pretoria’s CBD to highlight the plight of Palestinians.

The ANC in parliament, when EFF is not in the Parliament #ZumaQandA : pic.twitter.com/OTvbJrN8GL

— unlockd (@SupaUNLOCKD) November 2, 2017

ANC After seeing the is No EFF members in parliament #ZumaQandA pic.twitter.com/H6amR8laI0

— butilesello (@butilesello) November 2, 2017

No #eff at #ZumaQandA means ubaba will be enjoying himself. pic.twitter.com/0LySqpWcjO

— Keabetswe Moagi (@keamoagi) November 2, 2017

Some thought that the DA did a swell job playing EFF for an hour or two.

The DA is EFF’ing#ZumaQandA pic.twitter.com/fKUgcnw4eI

— Muzi Dlamini (@muzicomic) November 2, 2017

The Q&A session concluded at 4.30pm Thursday.

Feature image: screenshot, ParliamentRSA/YouTube