News
South Africa: President Zuma to address the State of the Nation amid economic woes, alleged corruption
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma is expected to receive a frosty reception when he opens parliament on Thursday, with opponents set to disrupt his nationally-televised state of the nation address him over the weakening economy and corruption allegations.
Members of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, led by firebrand former-ANC youth leader Julius Malema, are expected to quiz Zuma over the alleged misuse of taxpayers’ money.
Malema said he would “insist in a polite manner” that he be allowed to question Zuma.
South Africa’s usually calm parliament has been shaken-up since the EFF won 25 seats in May’s election. Its members wear red overalls and hard hats in the chamber, in a symbol of their apparent close ties to the working classes.
The EFF party initially broached the issue corruption allegations against Zuma in August last year – during a tumultuous session of parliament, where EFF lawmakers, who drowned out Zuma, yelling: “Pay back the money”.
Zuma has denied any wrongdoing.
Zuma will also be under pressure to explain the increasingly precarious state of Africa’s most developed economy, which was hit by record strikes in the mining sector last year and its worst power shortages since 2008.
The treasury has cut its economic growth forecast for 2015 to 2.5 percent from 3.2 percent previously, while the rand collapsed to a near 13-year low earlier this week.
