President Cyril Ramaphosa has on 7 February delivered the State of the Nation Address (Sona) for 2019. However, it was met with mixed reactions from South Africans and even political leaders from various parties.
DA leader, Mmusi Maimane, was not entirely impressed with Ramaphosa’s address and said the ANC continues to make empty promises to the people.
.@MmusiMaimane making the choice clear for South Africans:
An ANC government, with more empty promises, or a DA government with a track record of delivery!
Where we govern, unemployment is lowest, small businesses are supported & corruption is eradicated.
Woza 08 May 2019 ???????????? pic.twitter.com/jEWa4jcbkc
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) February 7, 2019
"The President’s #SONA2019 provided no plan of action to break down the wall that exists between the insiders & the outsiders – the “haves” & “have nots”.
Tinkering with the current policies that have not brought change to the lives of our people is not enough." – @MmusiMaimane pic.twitter.com/Tz0tRbzYmX
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) February 7, 2019
The only game-changer and “space to watch” is the 8th of May 2019 when the people of South Africa remove the @MYANC and elect @Our_DA government that will build One South Africa for All.#SONA2019 #OneSAforAll pic.twitter.com/CMEOv7juqu
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) February 7, 2019
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have, in the past, been known for disrupting State Of the Nation address, but on 7 February they were a different party altogether. EFF leader, Julius Malema said his party did not disrupt Ramaphosa’s speech because Ramaphosa admitted that the R500 000 paid to his son by Bosasa, now known as African Global Operations, was for a donation for his presidential campaign. The president met with the public protector over this issue on 5 February.
[In Case You Missed It]: Watch CIC @Julius_S_Malema clarifying why the EFF sat and listened to President Ramaphosa deliver the #SONA2019 pic.twitter.com/ZZ1lO4JUNH
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) February 7, 2019
However, the party was also involved in a scuffle in parliament just after the president delivered his speech. In a video that is doing rounds on Twitter, an EFF member is seen slapping a man.
Your thought on such a behavior from an EFF member of parliament? Cult leadership perhaps? ????????♂️#SONA2019 pic.twitter.com/E9WWyeFcDK
— #NgwanaKoGae (@Lebo_Molax) February 8, 2019
Twitter users had mixed reactions to the president’s speech and some were surprised by the way the EFF MPs conducted themselves in parliament on the night.
#SONA2019 Just wondering how much Juju and the EFF were paid to behave in parliament
— Glenville MLFransman (@gmlfransman) February 8, 2019
Are we going to seat there and behave as if @CyrilRamaphosa is the President we all need? The man never mentioned ANC to his #SONA2019 he never said anything in his own language.
— #AceForPresident2022 (@ComradeMDU) February 8, 2019
Deputy President Mr DD Mabuza not acknowledged by President Cyril Ramaphosa during #SONA2019 , is it a mistake or??????♂️ @_AfricanSoil pic.twitter.com/xq43zqNwhQ
— Mzulu❤️Phaqa (@msihlez123) February 8, 2019
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That’s a wrap for #SONA2019. Here’s what you may have missed …
