Ramaphosa to meet political parties

Deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday meet the leaders of political parties in Parliament, the presidency said.

"The meeting convened by Deputy President Ramaphosa is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen and consolidate parliamentary democratic processes by promoting a sound and healthy working relationship between parliamentary political parties and members of the national executive," spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said.

Mamoepa said 11 leaders have so far confirmed their attendance.

Last week, chaos erupted in Parliament as opposition parties shouted down National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete when she tried to prevent them from bringing dozens of motions.

Most of these were related to spending on so-called security upgrades at President Jacob Zuma's private Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal, which Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found Zuma to have unduly benefited from.

Tempers flared over the hours as ANC MPs retaliated by objecting to motions the opposition attempted to bring to delay tabling a report on the upgrades.

Veteran ANC MP Mathole Motshekga, who was pivotal in the ad hoc committee that drafted the report absolving Zuma from responsibility for the alleged abuse of funds at Nkandla, said the opposition was exaggerating Madonsela's findings.

It drew howls of protest from opposition parties.

Members of the police public order policing unit also entered the National Assembly chamber causing a scuffle.

The drama unfolded after Economic Freedom Fighters MP Ngwanamakwetle Mashabela refused to leave the podium when she was ordered to do so by house chairman Cedric Frolick.

Mashabela called Zuma a "thief" during a debate on the Grand Inga Hydro Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo and refused to withdraw her remarks.

Mashabela would not be moved when serjeant-at-arms Regina Mohlomi tried to escort her from the podium.

Police arrived minutes later tugging at Mashabela - who could be heard shouting "I don't want to be touched".

MPs from opposition benches expressed outrage, and jumped to Mashabela's defence. - Sapa