SA on tenterhooks ahead of SONA

President Jacob Zuma preparing his speech ahead of the State of the Nation Address (SONA). President Zuma will deliver his State of the Nation Address on Thursday 12 February 2015 in the National Assembly, Parliament, Cape Town. 11/02/2015, Ntswe Mokoena, DoC.

President Jacob Zuma preparing his speech ahead of the State of the Nation Address (SONA). President Zuma will deliver his State of the Nation Address on Thursday 12 February 2015 in the National Assembly, Parliament, Cape Town. 11/02/2015, Ntswe Mokoena, DoC.

Published Feb 12, 2015

Share

Cape Town - The country is on tenterhooks ahead of President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), which will most likely be disrupted by protesting MPs later on Thursday.

While Zuma is meant to give much needed direction to the country, where unemployment rates remain the highest in the world, much focus will be on if the Economic Freedom Fighters will follow through with its threats.

The EFF is demanding that Zuma answer a question he failed to at his last appearance in Parliament. They wanted to know whether he would pay back the money that many allege his owes the taxpayer for security upgrades to his Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal.

EFF leader Julius Malema has reiterated that he will not allow Zuma to start his address before he demands answers.

National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete will have the most stressful job as she will have to decide whether to show Malema and his fellow MPs the door, which has never happened at the opening of Parliament before.

The chances of an EFF revolt causing a complete abandonment of the event are however slim.

This SONA will be Zuma’s most difficult yet. Besides chaos looming large when he starts speaking, SA’s economy is in need of a drastic boost.

Eskom can no longer keep the lights on and communities continue to protest throughout the country over poor socio-economic conditions and service delivery.

Key areas Zuma is expected to focus on are land, energy, infrastructure development and the capacity of the state.

While Zuma has addressed these issues in previous SONAs, his critics argue not nearly enough has been done. ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe has also recognised that a diagnosis of problems is not needed, but rather action.

The event is not only about Zuma telling the nation and the rest of the world what the government’s plans are for the year. It is also gives MPs an opportunity to show off their garb. The red carpet outside Parliament becomes a runway with fashion varying from pilot uniforms and full length gowns to miniskirts and leopard print.

There are also brass bands and cannons fired to salute the president.

Zuma is expected to speak for an hour from 7pm.

Group Labour Editor

Related Topics: