Cape Town is bracing itself for a possibly violent showdown between the government and its critics today as President Jacob Zuma prepares to deliver his annual state of the nation address (Sona) to parliament at 7pm.
At least three protest marches and the disruption of the annual state showpiece will ensure that many Capetonians will avoid the centre of the Mother City on the day the supposedly people’s parliament kicks off its main activities for the year.
Three groups have permission to each march separately against the government today, namely the DA, the left wing group Seskhona, and the civic society group #ZumaMustFall.
The brunt of the accumulated state muscle is expected to be felt by the EFF, which has promised not to let Zuma start his speech unless he explains why he decided to fire Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister in December.
Zuma’s action sparked a severe economic reaction as the rand plummeted and stock prices fell.
The president is unlikely to answer the EFF’s questions, which should lead to the further disruption of proceedings and the eventual removal of EFF MPs from the National Assembly chamber, possibly by violent means.
Last year, the jaw of EFF MP Reneilwe Mashabela was broken as undercover public order policemen removed her from the chamber.
This year, worse violence is possible if the EFF does not vacate the chamber peacefully and willingly.
The DA, which walked out of the chamber in protest to the violent use of police last year, have vowed not to disrupt the Sona this year but to tackle Zuma in the subsequent debate.
The president faces the Sona much diminished by events over the past two months. First, the events surrounding the sacking of Nene and Des van Rooyen as finance ministers weakened his position, and then his defences regarding the payment for upgrades to his Nkandla homestead crumbled before the Constitutional Court this week.
Despite a probable public show of unity and support from the ANC parliamentary benches tonight, he will be facing real anger from senior ANC leaders regarding a perceived vacuous leadership style and the growing belief of a propensity to throw colleagues under the bus in the interest of self-preservation.
Zuma will also have to deal with questions regarding the financing of education and drought relief and the worsening macro-economic situation in the face of possible downgrading to junk status.
The president is furthermore expected to tackle the rising racial tensions in South Africa.
Cape Town prepares readies itself for possible Sona showdown chaos
At least three protest marches and the disruption of the annual state showpiece will ensure that many Capetonians will avoid the centre of the Mother City on the day the supposedly people’s parliament kicks off its main activities for the year.
Three groups have permission to each march separately against the government today, namely the DA, the left wing group Seskhona, and the civic society group #ZumaMustFall.
The brunt of the accumulated state muscle is expected to be felt by the EFF, which has promised not to let Zuma start his speech unless he explains why he decided to fire Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister in December.
Zuma’s action sparked a severe economic reaction as the rand plummeted and stock prices fell.
The president is unlikely to answer the EFF’s questions, which should lead to the further disruption of proceedings and the eventual removal of EFF MPs from the National Assembly chamber, possibly by violent means.
Last year, the jaw of EFF MP Reneilwe Mashabela was broken as undercover public order policemen removed her from the chamber.
This year, worse violence is possible if the EFF does not vacate the chamber peacefully and willingly.
The DA, which walked out of the chamber in protest to the violent use of police last year, have vowed not to disrupt the Sona this year but to tackle Zuma in the subsequent debate.
The president faces the Sona much diminished by events over the past two months. First, the events surrounding the sacking of Nene and Des van Rooyen as finance ministers weakened his position, and then his defences regarding the payment for upgrades to his Nkandla homestead crumbled before the Constitutional Court this week.
Despite a probable public show of unity and support from the ANC parliamentary benches tonight, he will be facing real anger from senior ANC leaders regarding a perceived vacuous leadership style and the growing belief of a propensity to throw colleagues under the bus in the interest of self-preservation.
Zuma will also have to deal with questions regarding the financing of education and drought relief and the worsening macro-economic situation in the face of possible downgrading to junk status.
The president is furthermore expected to tackle the rising racial tensions in South Africa.
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