Protests flair up ahead of SONA address
Protesters have begun making their way through the Cape Town city centre ahead of President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), according to a report by News24.
The Protesters, who are believed to be armed with sjamboks and other traditional weapons are headed to the Grand Parade where the ANC is holding an event tying in with tonight’s address.
According to News 24, a seperate group of protesters, carrying with posters and signs, had also camped out at Cape Town CBD’s train station, bringing operations there to a halt with police officers on the scene “looking worried”.
Concerned looking police officers at protestors in Train Station. @News24 #SONA2017 pic.twitter.com/YCFljfoeKA
— James de Villiers (@pejames) February 9, 2017
In a state of readiness report released earlier, the Presidency indicated that preparations for the national occasion are on track, announcing on Tuesday, 8 February that the President has approved the deployment of members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to maintain law and order around Parliament.
As in previous years, the President’s speech is expected to centre on boosting economic growth, fighting unemployment and poverty and effecting economic reform and transformation.
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