Malema party to confront Zuma over home improvements at South Africa’s parliament opening

In South Africa the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have started the countdown to next week’s opening of parliament in Cape Town. They say they will hold President Jacob Zuma accountable to the country for the upgrades to his home at Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal.

Julius Malema and other Economic Freedom Fighters MPs leave parliament after shouting "Pay back the money' at Zuma last August Reuters/Mike Hutchings

The EFF, led by former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, are also threatening to use shock tactics if they’re barred from wearing their trademark red overalls or maids’ uniforms in the house.

The clock on the EFF website has nine days and some minutes and seconds until what they’re calling the day of accountability.

President Jacob Zuma’s due to answer questions in the national assembly next month.

Last time he did this he was shouted down by EFF members who faced disciplinary action for disruptive behaviour.

Next week’s opening will, as always, be dedicated to Zuma’s state-of-the-nation speech.

The EFF threaten to cause turmoil again if Zuma does not offer to pay back the money paid from the public purse for security upgrades to his private home.

The event traditionally has television cameras filming legislators posing in their finery.

The EFF say they are determined to save it from becoming a fashion parade.

Malema says he will appear in the nude if women colleagues are prevented from wearing the maids’ uniforms and men are not allowed to sport the red overalls and hard hats they wear to underline their working-class status.