Social media went crazy with commentary on President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address last night. “Experts” in the politics, health, and fashion departments had a lot to say (or rather text) about the proceedings at Parliament’s fifth commencement.

Hot on the agenda was President Zuma’s speech. Many tweeps felt that the speech was identical to the one he delivered earlier this year. It was just shorter and less intriguing (at least our President practises the three Rs – reduce, reuse, and recycle). One tweep complained that JZ went on and on repeating promises he had not fulfilled in his first term. According to the tweep, he failed to address serious issues such as the e-Tolls and Nkandla. Even the members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) were not impressed with the speech, refusing to rise and applaud at the end of the speech.

Parliamentary members, politicians, and celebrities all gathered at Parliament in Cape Town for President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address speech (a friend we would like to call SONA). Sounds very serious, right? You would think that politicians were going to arrive dressed in their usual blazer-suits and conventional handbags. Well you thought wrong. In fact, it seems that it was fashion’s night out yesterday.

Members of the National Assembly pulled out all their fashion brushes and painted the red carpet…well uhm, red. Blending in with the red carpet were members of the EFF who once again had chosen to go with overalls and domestic worker outfits. Talk of cleaning out the fashion spotlight.

Celebrities such as Chomee and Arthur Mafokate were stylish as always, but their fashion choices were no match for our politician friends. Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Bheki Cele and his wife Thembeka Ngcobo had their fingers in the right fashion pies by going with a ‘50’s Sophiatown-inspired look. Mrs Ngcobo completed her elegant look with a pair of classy white gloves (which every girl should have IMO) and a pair of nude heels, probably by Christian Louboutin cause that’s how politician’s wives roll, right?

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi looked like a 1940s’ bridesmaid in a lilac mermaid dress and a pair of red heels (probably Louboutin as well). Scientists have never been good with fashion, and seeing that she’s practically one herself (she is the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology after all), we’ll let this one slide, for now.

But it was Madiba’s grandson Mandla Mandela and his wife Thando Mabunu who stole the show with their traditional fashion choice to rock on the red carpet. The chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and his wife opted to go the traditional route again wearing orange and black attire. What I loved the most about Mandela’s outfit (except the fact that it matched with his wife’s, of course) was the fact that he rocked it barefoot – and the dude has beautiful (or is it handsome?) feet.

The National Assembly always has something in store for us, and we never seem to get enough. Give us a president who repeats speeches, a political party that opts for overalls and politicians who dress to the nines and we will remain one happy nation.   All images: eNCA