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EFF members disrupt Zuma, refuse to leave

Parliament - Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters stood their ground and refused to leave the National Assembly after being ordered to do so by Speaker Baleka Mbete on Thursday.

An hour after being ordered to leave the House EFF MPs were still sitting in their benches chanting and singing.

Telecommunications and Postal Services Minister Siyabonga Cwele and his successor as Sate Security Minister David Mahlobo were in the Chamber and appeared to be negotiating with EFF leader Julius Malema and chief whip Floyd Shivambu.

Several police officers were also standing around the Chamber. The doors to the Chamber had been locked on those inside, including members of the media.

The EFF members earlier disrupted proceedings while President Jacob Zuma was answering questions.

Mbete instructed Malema and his fellow MPs to leave the house because they were "not serious" about proceedings.

Malema was not happy with Zuma's reply to a question about when he was going to "pay back" part of the money spent on the R246m security upgrades to his private Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal.

"I will throw you out of the house if you don't listen," Mbete shouted at EFF members, who responded by chanting "pay back the money".

Mbete eventually had to suspend proceedings and call in security to remove the EFF members.

While Zuma and MPs from other political parties left the chamber, EFF members remained, still chanting "pay back the money", and insisting they would not budge.

EFF chief Whip Floyd Shivambu shouted at Mbete: "You won't remove us."

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