'Zuma will resign anytime from now' - Malema

06 February 2018 - 14:54 By Timeslive and Reuters
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Julius Malema
Julius Malema
Image: Alaister Russell

EFF leader Julius Malema‚ commenting on the announcement on Tuesday that the state of the nation address had been postponed‚ says President Jacob Zuma's resignation is imminent.

Malema said most ANC national working committee members who met on Monday had spoken "in favour of his removal".

Parliamentary presiding officers Baleka Mbete and Thandi Modise on Tuesday afternoon announced the postponement of the state of the nation address, which had been due to take place on Thursday in Cape Town.

Mbete said: "We've decided to approach the president of the republic to postpone the state of the nation address. We need to create room for establishing a much more conducive atmosphere in Parliament."

Opposition parties had asked that the speech be postponed until after a no-confidence vote on Zuma’s leadership.

Facing a no-confidence motion in Parliament set for February 22, Zuma has survived several attempts to oust him in the past. But this time, a significant part of the ANC wants him to step down well before his second term ends by mid-2019.

The ANC has called a special meeting of its decision-making national executive committee for Wednesday. Analysts have said some members of the party at that meeting could call for Zuma to resign.

Mbete said a new date for the state of the nation address would be announced shortly.

On February 6, 2018, National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete announced that Sona has been postponed indefinitely. Sunday Times political reporter Qaanitah Hunter explains why this happened and what could happen next.


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now