The African National Congress (ANC) condemned the “disrespectful behaviour and deliberate disruption" by Black First Land First (BLF) members during a parliamentary meeting on Wednesday.

"We take serious exception to the confrontational and arguably abusive behaviour of these individuals," ANC Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu said in a statement.

“This kind of behaviour is a regrettable sign of the immature and scatterbrain nature of this organisation. It is a clear attempt at undermining Parliament as an institution and the ANC in Parliament as the majority party. We denounce this deliberate and misguided obstruction to the business of Parliament."

The joint meeting of the portfolio committee on finance and the portfolio committee on trade and industry descended into chaos during the BLF’s presentation on economic transformation.

BLF leader Andile Mngxitama called veteran ANC MP and portfolio committee on trade and industry chairperson, Joanmariae Fubbs, a fascist. Finance committee chair Yunus Carrim took exception and insisted that the BLF leave. A confrontation ensued.

Outside the committee room, Mngxitama called Carrim a stooge for "white monopoly capital" and said they were kicked out because Carrim did his white masters' bidding.

Mthembu said he would ask Speaker Baleka Mbete to institute an urgent investigation into the matter and to ensure that the responsible individuals were banned from Parliament in future.

The ANC would ask Parliament to look at the possibility of laying criminal charges.

“The institution must send a clear signal to all people of South Africa that Parliament is not a playground for thugs and criminals."

BLF’s members clashed with protesters outside the Gupta family's residence in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, in April.

The Sunday Times reported earlier that the Gupta’s UK PR firm, Bell Pottinger, funded BLF.  Mngxitama was an EFF MP but was expelled in April 2015 after a spat with the party's leadership.