Sona forecast: Partly cloudy with a 90% chance of EFF chaos

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have threatened to do one of the things they are most famous for – disrupting the annual state of the nation address (Sona) and transforming the proceedings into chaos.

At a media briefing on Sona held last week, National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete and National Council of Provinces chairperson Thandi Modise said no “extraordinary measures” had been put in place as they were not expecting any disruptions.

But the party has threatened to turn the address into a question-and-answer session, demanding that Ramaphosa “come clean” on the R500,000 donation made by highly controversial facilities management company Bosasa to his campaign for the presidency of the ANC.

EFF chairperson Dali Mpofu told SAFM that it was Ramaphosa, not the EFF, who should be blamed if there are disruptions.

“Ramaphosa will be the one disrupting the Sona because we cannot sit when we have a president who has lied. We cannot be addressed by someone on serious matters of the state when he has committed an impeachable offence. So, if Ramaphosa continues without addressing the Bosasa matter, he will be the one disrupting the Sona,” Mpofu said.

READ MORE: It’s Ramaphosa who will disrupt Sona, not the EFF – Mpofu

Presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko has called the EFF’s disruption threats “very unfortunate” and said it would be politically opportunistic for parties to use the Sona to push their own agendas.

Diko added that both the DA and EFF have taken the president to the public protector over the matter and that the investigation should be allowed to run its course.

“It would be best for her (Mkhwebane) to be allowed to conclude her work unhindered,” she said.

While Mbete and Modise may not be expecting disruptions, it seems the people of social media, from red-beret-wearing EFF supporters to their greatest detractors, expect the usual EFF fireworks, although they are divided on whether this will be a good thing or a bad thing.

(Additional reporting by Vhahangwele Nemakonde and Gopolang Chawane)

The EFF scripted performance will disrupt #SONA2019 This is the only way EFF gets free exposure by disrupting everything.

— Jo Public🐦 (@askjomo) February 7, 2019

https://twitter.com/TheGrantC/status/1093406238745026560

You got to hand it to the #EFF though,even if u disagree with them, they just make everything fashionable, #education#land#RET .
Now its fashionable to watch #SONA
They even made NOT playing Candy crush and NOT sleeping in Parliament fashionable 😁#SONA2019 pic.twitter.com/0RuFGee3IU

— The Times® (@ThandoJonasSA) February 7, 2019

I hope that the EFF will respect us today and not disrupt the SONA. 94% of us are also represented in that parliament by parties other than the EFF. #SONA2019

— Ngcebo S. Mhlongo (@Mhlongons) February 7, 2019

https://twitter.com/IamAdvMMafela/status/1093396501395591169

#SONA2019
Juju : point of order speaker
Speaker : yes honourable Malema
Juju. : Baba ka Andile, where's the Money from #Bosasa?

Speaker : order honourable Malema
EFF members : pay back the money! Pay back the money! pic.twitter.com/XxWbWuWTMp

— Simon (@tp_sithole) February 7, 2019

Let's see if the EFF will demand justice for the Marikana miners over the SONA like how they demanded JZ to pay back the money. #SONA2019

— Lefoko🇧🇼 (@Isago_L) February 7, 2019

Tonight EFF must disrupt that useless house #SONA2019

— T Man (@tmabaso_) February 7, 2019

https://twitter.com/amo_Muse/status/1093418757270188034

Has Ramaphosa met the requirements and the deadline set by the EFF or are we going to see the chaos brought to us by the EFF? What will happen at the #SONA2019 today?

— SoNtando kaNdzundza (@Comm_Bobo) February 7, 2019

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