Brawl breaks out in SA parly

A brawl broke out in the South African parliament yesterday as security officers were ordered to forcibly remove opposition MPs.

Several punches were thrown as the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) were expelled after trying to stop President Jacob Zuma speaking.

In March a court ruled Zuma violated the constitution by failing to pay back public money used on his mansion.

It is the second brawl in parliament this month.

Security guards were ordered by the speaker to eject the people who were being disruptive.

Guards surrounded the EFF MPs who were dressed in their trademark red boiler suits.

Objects, including bottles of water and a hard hat, were thrown as the guards tried to wrestle the MPs out of the chamber.

The EFF has denounced Zuma as an "illegitimate" ruler who should step down.

South Africa's highest court, the Constitutional Court, ruled that Zuma had violated the constitution when he failed to repay government money used to upgrade his private home in the rural area of Nkandla.

In a second case, at the end of April, a court said that Zuma should be charged with corruption.

The case is related to a multi-billion dollar arms deal the government negotiated in 1999.

Zuma denies any wrongdoing, and says he will continue to "shepherd" the nation. His term is due to end in 2019.

In his first appearance after this court ruling at the beginning of May, a brawl also broke out as EFF members were evicted for heckling.