Why was Mbete so quiet at Sona?

It seems that neither the ANC nor their president worry too much about the image portrayed around the world of the South African parliament. Viewers watching the TV broadcast of Thursday’s State of the Nation address were expecting the farce that was broadcast worldwide. It would be impossible to write a more hilarious comedy programme!

The joint sitting of parliament was controlled by the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces and not the speaker of parliament, who I assume is the senior of the two.

Did Baleka Mbete, pictured, defer to Thandi Modise as she fears for her chances of becoming the next president?

While expected, the actions of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) were more than over the top. Why are hard hats even permitted in parliament? Will the members of the EFF ever grow up and act as adults? Did the EFF bring the cable ties into parliament, along with the “injections of biological matter”? I suspect they enjoy the notoriety they create with their antics.

No 1 is content to wait almost an hour before delivering his State of the Nation address to an almost half empty Parliament. His self-satisfied smile leaves one with the idea that he has no embarrassment at his own failures, or lack of credibility.

I suspect the view of many of the invited guests was that, indeed, the Nation is in a State!

It would be wonderful to find out how many people, like me, switched off the broadcast when No 1 did eventually start speaking, as he is certainly not the world’s best orator. Tom Lambe Oakdene