The ANC has given up its fight to introduce new rules that would have barred EFF members from interrupting President Jacob Zuma during the forthcoming state of the nation address (Sona).

Cumbersome parliamentary procedures and an anxiety not to be seen to be panicking over the EFF’s threats led the party to cancel a joint rules committee meeting on Friday, which would have approved the new rules that include barring MPs from questioning the president during the Sona.

DA chief whip John Steenhuisen also confirmed that various opposition parties, excluding the EFF, had met Speaker Baleka Mbete informally on Thursday and highlighted the problems with pursuing new rules aimed at one political party.

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