Political parties will present what they call the “real” State of the Nation this week.
They would debate President Jacob Zuma’s address on Tuesday and Wednesday, and he would respond on Thursday.
Democratic Alliance Chief Whip John Steenhuisen said the party would show South Africa what it meant for Parliament to conduct oversight and hold the executive to account.
“We will use this opportunity to debate the important issues South Africa is facing: 8.3 million jobless people, low economic growth, a higher education crisis, service delivery, and crime.”
He said it was time for Zuma to account for his failures.
Steenhuisen said the African National Congress caucus should apologise to the country for protecting Zuma from paying for the upgrades to his Nkandla homestead.
Opposition parties criticised Zuma for not giving solutions to the country’s problems in his speech on Thursday. The ANC however praised it.
Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema and his MPs walked out during Zuma’s speech on Thursday. Speaking outside the Marks Building in Parliament while Zuma continued his speech in the National Assembly, he said the country did not come first for Zuma.
Zuma had breached his oath of office by not upholding the Constitution and deliberately did not implement Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s remedial actions to repay some of the money spent on Nkandla.
“Therefore, you cannot agree, as a legitimate leader of a legitimate party, elected by the people on the principle of anti-corruption, to be addressed by a criminal,” he said.
“So we are also are not convinced that Zuma should speak to us, because Zuma has put this government and country in a serious crisis because he appointed three finance ministers within four days. That is unacceptable.”