The Chairperson of National Council Of Provinces (NCOP) Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane refused to recognise former President and MK Party leader Jacob Zuma, who is also in attendance at the 2026 State Of Nation’s Address (SONA) debate in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Many were surpised when EFF MP Leigh-Ann Mathys urged Mtshweni-Tsipane to revisit the House rules after she declined to recognise former President Jacob Zuma, who is also attending the 2026 SONA debate.
“House chair, I think you must go back and read the rules correctly regarssless of how you feel of former President Zuma, we aknowldged state presidency here in this house. You need to go to your rules, you cannot say that there is no provision to aknowledge the former state president. It’s not true.
“Whether you like former President Zuma or not, whether he is part of your party l, doesn’t have membership, its immaterial. He was once upon a time a state president. Do the right thing. You even acknowledged De Klerk, the whole murderer who is roasting now in hell,” she argued. 
Mtshweni-Tsipane later interjected and said she has made a ruling on this matter and that the proceedings must continue.
Mathys did not back down as she argued that Mtshweni-Tsipane must do the right thing whether she did not like Zuma.
“Which rules did you read to say that? Can you refer us to the rule that says you must not acknowledge the former state president. You can’t just rule just out of your head. This is not the ANC NEC meeting. We are in parliament and there rules here,” she argued.
“Before I call upon the next speaker, I would like to take this opportunity and acknowledge the presence of former Republic of South Africa President Jacob Zuma. He is here with us today,” she said.