A brawl broke out in the South African parliament as security officers were ordered to forcibly remove opposition MPs.

Several punches were thrown as the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) were expelled after trying to stop President Jacob Zuma speaking.

In March a court ruled Mr Zuma violated the constitution by failing to pay back public money used on his mansion.

It is the second brawl in parliament this month.

Security guards were ordered by the speaker to eject the people who were being disruptive.

Guards surrounded the EFF MPs who were dressed in their trademark red boiler suits.

Objects, including bottles of water and a hard hat, were thrown as the guards tried to wrestle the MPs out of the chamber.

The EFF has denounced Mr Zuma as an ‘illegitimate’ ruler who should step down.

South Africa’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, ruled that Mr Zuma had violated the constitution when he failed to repay government money used to upgrade his private home in the rural area of Nkandla.

In a second case, at the end of April a court said that Mr Zuma should be charged with corruption.

The case is related to a multi-billion dollar arms deal the government negotiated in 1999.

Mr Zuma denies any wrongdoing, and says he will continue to “shepherd” the nation. His term is due to end in 2019.

In his first appearance after this court ruling at the beginning of May, a brawl also broke out as EFF members were evicted for heckling.

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The Nelson Mandela Foundation in association with the University of Pretoria, is delighted to announce that Bill Gates will deliver the 14^th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture on July 17, 2016, the eve of Mandela Day.

Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will address the theme “Living Together” in his lecture at the University of Pretoria’s Mamelodi campus.

The Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture is one of the Foundation’s flagship programmes to Nelson Mandela, and to raise topical issues affecting South Africa, Africa and the rest of the world. It encourages both local and international dialogue – often about difficult subjects – as a means to address the multiple and complex challenges that face the world today. The Lectures are addressed by speakers who have made a significant contribution in their field of expertise.

“Living Together” highlights the need for a new social pact across the globe to end protracted conflict, overcome intolerance and prejudice, improve access to healthcare and education, and reduce poverty and inequality.

Considered one of the most influential individuals of our time, Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, is guided by the belief that all lives have equal value, and is dedicated to building a world where every person has a chance to lead a healthy, productive life. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works with partners and grantees to combat infectious diseases that disproportionately affect the world’s poorest; empower women and girls to transform their lives; ensure that children and young people survive and thrive; and inspire people to take action to change the world. Through its support for innovative techniques, tools and approaches, the Gates Foundation has helped make possible dramatic progress in reducing hunger, alleviating poverty, and preventing and treating HIV, malaria, and polio in Africa and around the world.

“It’s an incredible honour to be invited to deliver this year’s Nelson Mandela Lecture. President Mandela will be remembered for generations to come for his courage, his vision, and his relentless pursuit of equality and justice. I believe, as he did, that progress is possible. We can help people everywhere live healthier, more productive lives – if we make sure that innovation reaches everyone who needs it. I can’t think of a better venue for discussing these urgent issues than the Nelson Mandela Lecture,” said Gates.

“The Nelson Mandela Foundation shares Mr Gates’s commitment to improving the quality of life for people around the world. We know that the promise of a better life is possible through improving access and quality of education, health and opportunity. These are causes that Mr Gates continues to advance and support. We are honoured to have him to share his insights on the most challenging issues of our time,” said Professor Njabulo Ndebele, Chairman of the Board of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

“We are delighted that Mr Gates has accepted our invitation to deliver this year’s Lecture. I have no doubt that his views will stimulate debate and highlight the issues that continue to curb progress of poor and marginalised communities in South Africa and around the world,” said Sello Hatang, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

The Lecture will be held at the University of Pretoria’s Mamelodi campus.

“As an innovator and a philanthropist, I know Bill Gates will inspire students, staff and academics at the University of Pretoria. His dedication and commitment to improving the lives of the poor sets a remarkable example for us all. We are delighted to partner with the Nelson Mandela Foundation to host the lecture”, said Professor Cheryl de la Rey, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Pretoria.

Gates, now 60, left Harvard University in 1975 during his junior year to focus on Microsoft, the company he founded with his childhood friend Paul Allen.

Previous speakers of the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture:

2003:        Former US President, Bill Clinton

2004:        Archbishop Desmond Tutu

2005:        Nobel laureate, Prof Wangari Maathai

2006:        Former President Thabo Mbeki

2007:        Former Secretary General of the UN, Mr Kofi Annan

2008:        Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

2009:        Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of the Grameen Bank, Professor Muhammad Yunus

2010:        Chilean-American author, activist and professor of Literature and Latin-American Studies, Ariel Dorfman

2011:        Director of the Library of Alexandria in Egypt, Ismail Serageldin

2012:        Former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson

2013:        Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Dr Mo Ibrahim

2014:        President Michelle Bachelet of Chile

2015:        Economist, Thomas Piketty

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Former Monitor Managing Editor Don Innocent Wanyama has been appointed Senior Presidential Press Secretary.

Mr. Wanyama, who has been Media Assistant in the office of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party chairman, will now supervise the presidential media team which has been headed by Ms Linda Nabusayi.

Wanyama previously worked as a Sub-Editor at the New Vision before leaving for the Daily Monitor as Chief Sub-Editor. Wanyama later on replaced Daniel Kalinaki as Managing Editor dallies before he was pushed out due to intrigue and infighting at the 8^th street based independent daily.

Mr. Wanyama’s new role as head of press and communication at State House include, supervision of all communication outlets and monitoring of all other appointee in the department of press and communication. His office is based at Okello House.

Other people who held the responsibilities similar to Mr. Wanyama’s before, include; Hope Kivengere, Onapito Ekomoloit, Mary Karooro Okurut, Tamale Mirundi and most recently Linda Nabusayi Wamboka.

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