An argument broke out during a recent parliamentary committee meeting between Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) lawmaker Sihle Lonzi and African National Congress (ANC) lawmaker Gaolatlhe David Kgabo, leading to tensions between the two parties.

The confrontation, which took place in front of members of the committee and legislative staff, brought attention to the ongoing political tensions between the two main parties. The assessment of departmental expenditure reports allegedly sparked the disagreement that led to the altercation, which centred around questions of accountability and governance.

Lonzi, whose style is characterised by assertiveness and conflict, accused ANC members of protecting incompetent officials from appropriate examination and cast doubt on the validity of several procedures.

Kgabo, clearly enraged by the charges, cut Lonzi off in the middle of his speech and accused him of becoming a political showboat instead of contributing productively. Allegedly, Kgabo yelled out, "You are not here to campaign, but to contribute to oversight," as tensions rose in the dispute. Responding, Lonzi said the ANC's defensive stance reflected a larger problem with the ruling party's culture of impunity and lack of openness.

The chair of the committee made an effort to calm things down by yelling out a call to order and reminding the two lawmakers of the rules that govern their behaviour in parliament. Still, it took a few minutes of back-and-forth until everything settled down again.