Charles Molele
Former President Jacob Zuma will not be attending the State of the Nation Address, according to his lawyers.
“Our instructions remain that President Zuma is currently receiving medical treatment in a foreign country, and will therefore, not be attending the SONA,” said Lugisani Mantsha Attorneys.
“Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, in which it is claimed that President Jacob Zuma will attend the South African State of the Nation Address (“SONA”) taking place on the 13th of February 2020. We do not know how and where Parliamentobtained this incorrect information.”
Earlier, Parliament announced that the former president will attend SONA but several hours later retracted the statement, saying the announcement was ‘premature’ and ‘erroneously’ published.
“In confirming the list of former presidents who have confirmed attendance of the SONA, an earlier tweet erroneously included former President Jacob Zuma. The confirmation was premature; an accurate update will be given later today whether the former President is able to attend or not,” it said in a statement.
ANC’s secretary general Ace Magashule said Zuma was very ill and recuperating at home.
Magashule was responding to questions from the SABC after the Pietermaritzburg High Court’s decision to reject Zuma’s sick note, citing discrepancies.
Magashule said the ANC has spoken to Zuma and his family.
Proceedings are set to begin at 7pm.
MKMVA spokesperson Carl Niehaus has also dismissed Parliament’s statement that former president will attend SONA on Thursday, calling it ‘fake’ news.