Analysts expect Zuma to prioritise 'struggling' economy in SONA
Analysts believe South Africa's struggling economy has to be the most important issue for the President tonight when Jacob Zuma opens Parliament and addresses the country.
Besides the Nkandla court case hanging over his head, the President may face fierce criticism from EF MPs in the National Assembly. They want answers from Zuma as to why he fired the Finance Minister, sending the rand into a tumble.
Political analyst, Richard Calland says Zuma should prioritise.
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"The plight of the economy, that's the most important issue and his own political travails are secondary to that although you would think that he would be also wanting to show that he's up for the fight personally and that he's got leadership that is necessary," he said.
Meanwhile, outside Parliament and on the streets of Cape Town marches will be led by the DA, the #ZumaMustFall campaign and the Ses'khona People's Rights Movement.
Ses'khona's Suleiman Stellenboom promises a peaceful anti-racism protest .
"We march against racism, we marching on the DA's office and we don't endorse any violence," he said.
But Calland reckons overall, things will be tense
"I don't think and I hope it won't be as dramatic as last year with the disruption of the State of the Nation Address but I do think that there's a volatile atmosphere in the country at the moment, I expect that to be the backdrop to the Address," he said.
(File photo: Gallo Images)