Cape Town — The Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party said Jacob Zuma would not be attending the State of the Nation Address (SONA), despite reports that he was set to do so.
MK Party MP, Mzwanele Manyi confirmed that Zuma would not be at the “fake” SONA as he was in court over his private prosecution case on the same day, Newzroom Afrika reported.
He said Judge Hlophe was set to give the real SONA but Parliament had not given them a venue and he said that the judiciary purposefully double-booked Zuma.
“He is busy with the judiciary today so he can’t be at two places at the same time,” Manyi said.
“He was expected to be here, but the judiciary has refused that he should be here, the judiciary has got him tied up in all knots so if he is not in any one of those, you must ask the judiciary why they are refusing Zuma to be here,” Manyi said.
WATCH BELOW:
MK Party MP Mzwanele Manyi says former president and MK Party leader Jacob Zuma will no longer be attending the “fake” SONA as it was expected because he has to attend to legal matters in relation to the arms deal. Manyi says the judiciary made sure Zuma does not attend the… pic.twitter.com/GD8Tt0sAYa
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) February 6, 2025
According to The Citizen, this SONA would have marked the first time since 2018, when Zuma delivered the SONA as President, that he would have attended the annual ceremony as all former heads of state and presiding officers get automatic invites to the event.
This year’s SONA is the first that will take place under the Government of National Unity (GNU) and more than 2 000 special guests are expected to attend.
According to Newzroom Afrika, National Assembly speaker, Thoko Didiza and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) chairperson, Refilwe Mtsweni said a host of big name delegates were expected to be in attendance, with Zuma among them.
“The issues of former president who will be in attendance, we can confirm all them are coming, the likes of former president Mbeki, he will be here. Former president Motlanthe, he is here with us, as well as former president Zuma, he will be in attendance,” Mtsweni said.
“Not only them, the Speaker has alluded that even the former deputy presidents, as well as former speakers and chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. So, they will be here in their numbers,” she added.
[WATCH] Parliament confirms that former president and MK Party leader Jacob Zuma will attend #SONA2025 after years of missing the sitting. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/LZJHyN6i7e
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) February 5, 2025
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
