Opposition parties hopeful Zuma will resign

1 April 2016

Johannesburg - Speculations were already doing the rounds on social media over what President Jacob Zuma would say when he addresses the nation at 19:00. 

Former Cosatu general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, was among those who took to Twitter to add to the hype about Zuma's imminent address. 

"JZ will address the nation at 19:00. Will he do the right thing? Will he save SA or is this about himself?," Vavi tweeted. 

The Economic Freedom Fighters have repeatedly called for Zuma to step down.

EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi issued a stern warning to Zuma to heed to their call or deal with the consequences. 

"Warning to Zuma; don't provoke the people, don't take them for fools they will take you down like they did apartheid, #SukaEndleni," he tweeted.  Suka endleni was Zulu for step aside. 

National spokesperson of the Democratic Alliance Phumzille van Damme said she hoped Zuma would do the right thing and walk away from the presidential seat. 

"The only announcement Jacob Zuma should make tonight is of his resignation & presentation of a detailed plan on Concourt orders," van Damme wrote on Twitter. 

The Presidency issued an alert stating that the president was to address the nation at 19:00. 

The ANC was also expected to hold a press briefing at 20:00.

The only details issued by the Presidency was that Zuma would address the national regarding the Constitutional Court ruling about the multi-million rand upgrades at his Nkandla homestead. 

On Thursday, the Constitutional Court had ruled that the president should adhere to the remedial actions of the public protector and pay back tax payers funds which were used for non-security upgrades worth millions at his Nkandla home. 

The court further ruled that Zuma and the National Assembly had violated the Constitution by ignoring the public protector's report. 

Since the ruling, opposition parties have called for Zuma to step down. 

This article first appeared on News24, see here.