Opposition parties on Tuesday blamed the National Assembly’s tattered image on President Jacob Zuma and Speaker Baleka Mbete.

The African National Congress called on parties to become part of the solution, and stop finger-pointing.

MPs were debating “Restoring the image of the National Assembly in light of recent developments”.

 African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) leader Kenneth Meshoe said all parties had to take responsibility for events in the House, and that Zuma had to be the first.

“He has lost all credibility,” he said.

Mbete protected members of the ruling party over opposition MPs, he said.

Democratic Alliance (DA) MP James Selfe said the House had become a circus.

“That is because we have become a comic opera. A sort of sordid reality programme that ought to have an age restriction.”He condemned the disruptions, which some parties blamed on the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

United Democratic Movement MP Nqabayomzi Kwankwa said Zuma was part of the problem. He call on presiding officers to be impartial.

Last Tuesday, EFF MPs were forcefully removed from the National Assembly when they tried to stop Zuma from speaking. They threw water bottles and hard hats at Parliament’s security officers and smashed a glass door with a fire extinguisher on their way out. They had been kicked out several times this year.

The EFF MPs were again suspended from Parliament.

Salary deductions

Freedom Front Plus MP Corne Mulder said suspending the EFF MPs was not enough. Money had to be deducted from their salaries when they disrupted the National Assembly.

ANC MP Julie Killian called on all parties to stop blaming Zuma and Mbete.

Killian said political parties who disrupted Parliament were looking to make headlines.

House chairperson Thoko Didiza reminded MPs that they were servants of the people.