South African riot police clashed with opposition MPs hours after parliament absolved President Jacob Zuma over the use of some $23m (£14m) of state money to upgrade his private home in Nkandla.

They intervened after opposition MP Ngwanamakwetle Mashabela repeatedly called Mr Zuma a thief.

Four MPs were reportedly injured in the scuffle during the late-night session.

In March, the country's corruption investigator said Mr Zuma had "unduly benefited" from the improvements.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela also accused him of unethical conduct and recommended he repay money used on non-security features in the renovation of his rural home in Nkandla, KwaZulu Natal province, which includes a swimming pool, cattle enclosure and chicken run.

But a parliamentary committee report - passed by a majority of African National Congress (ANC) MPs on Thursday - absolved Mr Zuma of any wrongdoing.

The government has always argued that the work was needed to improve security.

There were heated scenes before the vote, as MPs from several opposition parties attempted to filibuster the session in Cape Town's parliament.

Ms Mashabela, a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, made her comments in one of the debates that followed.

"President Zuma is a thief. He is a criminal. He is the greatest thief in the world," she said.

When she refused to withdraw the statement and refused to be removed from the chamber by an official, the riot police intervened.

By this stage the parliamentary TV feed was cut.

Scuffles broke out between officers on the one side and MPs from the opposition Democratic Alliance and the EFF on the other.

According to South Africa's Mail and Guardian newspaper, ANC MP Lindiwe Zulu was involved in a brawl with an EFF MP in the corridor outside the chamber before Thursday's debate.

'Racist and fascist'

The ANC criticised the "chaotic circus and "unruly conduct" of MPs.

"The dangerous alliance of a racist DA and a fascist EFF driven by a common hatred and disdain for the ANC has once again displayed its contempt for our democratic institutions," ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said in a statement.

On Friday, parliamentary speaker Baleka Mbete defended the use of the police.

"We could not sit here in this institution and forever allow disruptions and outrageous conduct of honourable members who have come here not to work as we all do, but to come here and just push the boundaries in the process to rubbish this institution of the people," the South African Press Association quoted her as saying.

The EFF, which calls for radical policies to ease poverty, has 25 MPs in the 400-member parliament. They often wear red workers' overalls or red maids' uniforms in the chamber.