What do we then do, Aryan? Where do we then go?

Abstract

Prologue

(Reuters) – South Africa’s main opposition party said on Monday [17 November 2014] it had asked law-enforcement authorities to charge a government minister and police with assault after several of its parliamentary deputies were injured during a brawl. Police entered the chamber during session on Thursday for the first time since the 1994 end of apartheid after a furious debate over alleged graft in a $23 million state-funded upgrade to President Jacob Zuma’s house. Critics said the episode, in which witnesses said lawmakers from the ruling African National Congress cheered as police physically ejected rival deputies, was an example of increased ANC thuggery to chill dissent. The ANC denies such accusations. The ANC said the disturbance arose from ‘anarchy’ caused by the two leading opposition parties, although TV footage showed members of all three parties trading insults. Police entered the chamber after a live television feed of the debate had ended. ‘Three MPs laid charges against the police for assault, and a fourth MP has laid charges against Deputy Minister for Higher Education and Training Mduduzi Manana,’ the opposition Democratic Alliance said in a statement. ‘Some of our members of parliament were injured in the assault.’ It said Manana had roughed up a DA parliamentarian. Police spokesmen and officials from Manana’s office did not respond to requests for comment. (‘South Africa Opposition Pursues Assault Charges after Parliament Brawl’ 2015).