Representatives from the Economic Freedom Fighters and Democratic Alliance walked out of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature on Friday due to the presence of former president Jacob Zuma.

The Pietermaritzburg legislature was packed to the rafters with MP’s eager to hear KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala’s state of the province address. However, just before Zikalala was due to start, the DA objected to Zuma’s presence, saying he was not a member. This was backed up by the EFF.

However, speaker of the house Ntobeko Boyce dismissed the issue and continued with proceedings, cuing a walk out by the DA and EFF.

The Inkatha Freedom Party – the official opposition in the province following the May elections –  remained in the house.

TimesLive reported that the provincial department of agriculture had included Zuma on their stakeholder’s list “due to his passion for agriculture”.