A downpour in Cape Town did little to dampen the spirits of those gathered for President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation address on Wednesday.
The rain soaked the red carpet, which led to guests squelching their way to the entrance to Parliament.
Anele Mda, the Congress of the People’s youth leader, was dressed in a flowing canary-yellow dress with white-rimmed sunglasses reminiscent of Jackie Onassis.
Mda told the Mail & Guardian that her ‘simple, but elegant†dress suited her complexion.
On her sunglasses, she said: ‘Beauty is never completed without glasses, whether it’s raining or not I can’t say ‘Now I have to be out of style’.â€
Juanita Terblanche, the Democratic Alliance’s shadow minister for home affairs, looked resplendent in a red and gold David Tlale outfit, which was topped off with a headdress of red feathers.
Terblanche said she had only realised last Wednesday that she didn’t have an dress, and that she had been fortunate that Tlalehad been able to make the outfit at short notice.
Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Peterson was dressed in a deep purple Escada skirt-suit with bright red high heels.
Joemat-Peterson said she was looking forward to Zuma’s speech and hoped it would provide direction to the country.
Eastern Cape premier Nosimo Balindlela, who is now a member of Parliament for Cope, wore her trademark Xhosa traditional dress, sans shoes.