February 12 : Day of reckoning for President Zuma as showdown with the EFF looms during SONA

They could easily pass for one of those state events merely compelled by law to hold, but which are nothing more than talk shops, appealing only to a handful of lawmakers and politicians. Well those who manage to make it through the address awake anyways! Often, State of the Nation Addresses have been filled with platitudes, more and more political rhetoric and the occasional light hearted joke meant to portray the Head of State as having that whiff of charisma and humanity. Apart from that though, the addresses are as entertaining as they are fleeting. Nothing more than a ceremonial event that just needs to be done, and everyone gets on with their lives.

Perhaps, in recent memory, the address that has been a complete opposite of the ones we've become accustomed to is the rather infamous 2003 State of the Union Address by President Bush which came less than two months before America's invasion of Iraq. This speech is said to have contained the famed "16 words" that were used to justify eight years of occupation and war in Iraq. But it seems President Bush's 2003 address now potentially faces worthy competition in President Jacob Zuma's February 12 State of the Nation Address. That is if Julius Malema's EFF has its way on the ‘Nkandlagate' debacle.

The recently wed, 34 year old firebrand leader says, "Thursday, 12 February will be the day of reckoning on "Pay back the money". This is a phrase that has made its way into South African parlance ever since Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela's report recommended that President Zuma repay a portion of the costs used for upgrades to his personal homestead in rural Nkandla. This, as a corrective measure to what was deemed as undue benefits President Zuma enjoyed.  The EFF intends to usher in this "day of reckoning" with a big flourish, as they plan on interjecting President Zuma by rising on a point of order when he stands to address the nation, and ask him when he will pay back the money.

Forget about the sanctity of the address as a joint sitting of the Houses of Assembly, the EFF have firmly set their sights on a full blown confrontation with the President until they get an answer. Despite a strongly worded letter from the Speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete cautioning the EFF against interrupting the President during the State of the Nation Address, it looks like the EFF's train will march on full-steam-ahead in a show of brute defiance. And it's not exactly unfamiliar terrain for the party, as last August they were accused of not observing protocol, undermining democracy as they chanted "Pay back the money" in the National Assembly, staged a sit-in and forced parliamentary proceedings to be suspended in the process.

It would appear therefore that President Zuma is precariously caught in between a rock and a hard place – hedged in on each side. On the one hand, Zuma is presiding over a nation taking strain; unprecedented power cuts, a weakening economy, growing restlessness over the slow pace of economic reforms and inclusivity as well as a national education system that is gnawed by massive frailties. And these typically should be the keystone areas of President Zuma's speech when he opens parliament on February 12. No doubt the President will touch on these challenges as he apprises the ‘rainbow nation' on the state of the country. To the more discerning observer though - judging from his two most recent speeches at the ANC's fundraising dinner and the anniversary rally at Cape Town stadium, where the President ever so gloriously squandered the opportunities to reassure his fellow citizens of his party's grip on the challenges the country is facing – this could well turn out to be a monotonous, and rambling speech bereft of any real ideas to strategically respond to the country's increasing list of challenges. It could even be the platform on which he absolves himself and his administration of responsibility for the country's woes, like he did with the energy crisis at the ANC's 103rd anniversary rally without chagrin.

So potentially what would have otherwise been a dull, insipid state event apart from the grandiose red carpet moments when attendees strut their designer clothes, could now be punctuated by a showdown between President Zuma and Julius Malema together with his 25 member strong ‘squadron' of MPs. The EFF have vowed to not relent on the "Pay back the money" campaign until Zuma repays the money, in their crusade against corruption and lack of accountability.

This then will be a state of the nation address not to be missed. It will likely go down as an event pitting the wits of President Zuma, the ANC, Speaker Mbete, the EFF, and will provide fodder for the local dailies and tabloids. Could it then change State of the nation addresses as we know them?