South African President Kgalema Motlanthe is expected to deliver his state of the nation address just after 11am today. It will be broadcast on television and is expected to be watched by millions of South Africans.
Among the subjects Motlanthe is expected to tackle is the disbanding of the Scorpions, a move which sparked fierce debate and controversy at a time when many top officials were suspected of questionable behaviour, sometimes even criminal.
He is also expected to address the ever present question of South Africa’s poverty stricken masses and the health care system in the country that many people feel is woefully inadequate.
Some were speculating that the President may announce the date of the national elections today aswell but a party official has dismissed the idea and said that the President would be making that announcement next week. It will be one of the fiercest political battles since 1994 however the ANC is nevertheless expected to win.
Pres. Motlanthe accepted the position of president of South Africa after former president, Thabo Mbeki, was asked to step down amidst a legal scandal involving ANC party president Jacob Zuma.
Pres. Motlanthe’s state of the nation address will be a strange event in South African history,because it is being delivered by an acting President who’s term of office is likely to end after the elections even if the ANC wins. The ANC’s presidential candidate is Jacob Zuma who is currently embroiled in a seemingly never ending legal battle over fraud and corruption charges that are linked to an arms deal that created alot of scandal.
Hopefully President Motlanthe will deliver an honest speech that addresses the real issues faced by everday South Africans.
