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state of the nation 2014latest news & developments

Zuma’s State of the Nation a bit like a camel

His inability to manage the ANC’s contradictions over economic policy is Jacob Zuma’s ultimate failure.

Only action will rescue Zuma

President Jacob Zuma needs to act decisively, but that could mean he will share former president Thabo Mbeki’s fate.

Malema gives and receives an earful in Parliament

EFF leader Julius Malema tore into President Jacob Zuma at the Sona debate, but also received a lot of criticism.

EFF leader Julius Malema.

Six times Malema dished it out during his parliamentary speech

Julius Malema walks into Parliament and causes a storm during the State of the Nation debate. Here’s what he said.

Load shedding, ratings downgrade fails to inspire Zuma’s Sona

Analysts have had mixed reactions to President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address, which many say did not note the country’s economic pressures.

SA economy needs radical reconstruction, say political groups

Cosatu’s Zwelinzima Vavi and opposition parties have harshly criticised Jacob Zuma’s Sona, with some calling for a radical change to economic policy.

President Jazob Zuma.

Sona 2014: Focus on economy and job creation

A frail-looking President Jacob Zuma delivered his State of the Nation Address, promising to improve the struggling economy and creating more jobs.

Bottoms up: An extra 1% tax on alcohol sales could fund a preventive health foundation.

Sona 2014 take two: Address the economy, Mr President

Analysts say Jacob Zuma should focus his State of the Nation speech on fixing the economy after a damaging labour strike and economic downgrades.

President Jacob Zuma.

State of the Nation: What should Zuma say?

The president will make his first public appearance in 10 days when he delivers his seventh State of the Nation address.

The chief whips met in parliament shortly after the ANC announced that its MPs would be allowed to vote in favor of a motion of no confidence in Zuma.

Zuma asks Parliament to move State of the Nation address

President Jacob Zuma has asked Parliament to move the upcoming State of the Nation Address from June 19 to two days earlier on June 17.

Party control over MPs violates the separation of powers between the executive and the legislature, which came to light during Jacob Zuma’s presidency. Photo: File

Zuma promises ‘socioeconomic’ changes after election

President Jacob Zuma has told National Assembly that government would launch a drive to tackle poverty and inequality after the elections.

Jacob Zuma’s “good story” Sona speech criticised

Weekend 101: Parly insults and Waterkloof Four stupidity

Jacob Zuma’s "good story” Sona speech criticised, Nkandla only cost R50-million (roughly), and how showing your pecs can land you in trouble.

Sona debate: Which politician got in the best jibes?

We round up the top quotes from the State of the Nation debate as politicians traded insults ahead of President Jacob Zuma’s response.

ANC narrative takes sour turn in Parliamentary volley

MPs have been knocking President Jacob Zuma’s liberal use of the phrase "a good story" during the recent Parliamentary debates.

There was lots of story-telling in Parliament as party after party tried to use the ‘good story to tell’ phrase to their own end.

Sona debate: So where are the good stories?

There was a great deal of story-telling in Parliament as party after party tried to use the "good story to tell" phrase to their own end.

I expected so much more from the SABC

Media Monitoring Africa’s William Bird writes about his disappointment in the SABC after the release of the latest report into poor governance.

Mazibuko says she has no plans to join a political party again now that she has returned to the country following a stint abroad studying at Harvard in the United States. (David Harrison/M&G)

Mazibuko’s vow an empty threat, says ANC

The ANC says Lindiwe Mazibuko’s warning of impeachment against President Jacob Zuma is nothing more than a rhetorical threat.

Mazibuko: Probe Nxesi for misleading Parly on Nkandla

The DA’s parliamentary leader says the public works minister should be investigated for "misleading" Parliament on his task team’s Nkandla report.

President Jazob Zuma.

Sona debate focuses on ANC’s ‘good story’

While ANC MPs stuck to the "good story" line, opposition parties in Parliament aimed to poke holes in last week’s State of the Nation address.

Mazibuko warns on Zuma impeachment at Sona debate

DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko has vowed to table a motion to impeach President Jacob Zuma if the Nkandla report implicates him.