Cele defends police action at SONA

CAPE TOWN - We were not going to wait to see blood flowing.

That's the word from Police Minister Bheki Cele in reaction to the EFF disrupting Thursday night's State of the Nation Address.

He says the police had no choice but to eliminate the threat and to eject the opposition party.

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This after the red berets stormed the stage when President Cyril Ramaphosa started delivering his speech.

After numerous disruptions, National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was forced to suspend proceedings.

"There was a threat there of the head of state. As police we have to react," said Cele.

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"Remember, we have a history in this country where the Prime Minister was killed in the House. 

"So we are not going to wait too much to see if there was blood flowing or not. We had to act," he said.

"It's unfortunate that it happened but I'm very sure that is correct the police had no other way of responding."