State of the nation address postponed
The presiding officers will announce the new date for the address in the next few days.
President Jacob Zuma has been requested by Parliament to postpone this year’s state of the nation address (Sona) initially planned for Thursday, February 8.
After meeting with leaders of political parties represented in Parliament, National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete and chairperson of the national council of provinces Thandi Modise announced the postponement.
The Speaker of the National Assembly has confirmed that the #SoNA2018 has been postponed
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) February 6, 2018
She mentioned internal issues within the ANC as the greatest contributor to this decision.
Also read: ANC ‘divided’ on Zuma’s fate
Mbete last week refused to accede to a request by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) that Sona be postponed pending the finalisation of the motion of no confidence in Zuma.
The EFF was told that owing due to a packed parliamentary programme, the motion of no confidence would instead be scheduled the day after the budget speech. In a statement at the time, parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said Mbete was hamstrung by the constitution.
This decision gives the ruling party ample time to get its house in order as it goes into a special national executive committee (NEC) tomorrow night to deal with the “transition period”.
Statement by the Presiding Officers of Parliament on the 2018 State of the Nation Address https://t.co/QIDpNCrnc8 #SONA18 pic.twitter.com/AZGaKtrVIk
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) February 6, 2018
Read the original story on The Citizen
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