While shedding the burden may not have affected President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2023 state of the nation address (Sona) on Thursday, the same cannot be said of some of the country’s political parties.
South Africans will be waiting with bated breath to hear what the president does to tackle the Eskom crisis which is now being called the “third pandemic”.
Eskom on Tuesday announced that the implementation of load shedding will remain in phase 4 from 16:00 to 17:00, and phase 3 from 5:00 to 16:00 daily until further notice.
Sona load shedding
However, Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said The Warga that the Parliament is exempt from open disclosure.
“Load shedding will continue to be implemented as communicated. According to the law, the Parliament area and the Union House are exempted from the load. And the respective municipalities (Cape Town and Tshwane) make sure that these facilities are protected.
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Talk about shedding
While shedding the burden will not affect Sona Ramaphosa, the red beret and the National Freedom Party (NFP) may give it a hard time and are expected to enforce “talking” to keep the president from saying a single word.
The EFF said it will not allow Ramaphosa to address the Chamber until the Phala Phala issue is resolved, while NFP secretary-general Canaan Mdletshe said. Africa Newsroom The party will do everything possible to disrupt the president.
Mdletshe said Ramaphosa has failed to lead South Africa and should step down.
“I don’t think we will be muscular, but we will make sure that we harass the president. He will not be easy on Thursday… he must be harassed. So we are asking all other MPs (members of Parliament) including from the ANC to do something the same.
protest
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said all preparations are underway for Ramaphosa to deliver the 2023 State of the Nation address, adding that Parliament has also noted the planned protests before Sona.
“Peaceful protest is a feature of our constitutional democracy and a means of expressing our views on the state address. Appropriate arrangements will be made to receive the memorandum if required,” he said.
Also read: ‘This is not a pompous ceremony’: Parliament on Sona’s R8 million budget
Additional report by Molefi instrument