Members of Parliament on Thursday put their best foot forward for the annual State of the Nation Address.
The red carpet, as is customary, was rolled out for MPs as they arrived in anticipation of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s second SONA while major routes into the Cape Town CBD were lined with police and security personnel.
On a sweltering day in which the temperature was close to 40°C, some opted for bare shoulders, like DA MP Natasha Mazzone who looked hot in a two-tone pink boob tube dress, her white-blonde hair up in an elegant chignon.
ANC MP Matthews Wolmarans’ wife, Lillian, raised eyebrows and temperatures in a daring gold and blue ensemble, which displayed her ample assets but put her in danger of spilling out of her rok.
IT WAS A SCORCHER: DA MP Natasha Mazzone. Photo: AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY/ANA
DA MP Phumzile van Damme, accompanied by her sister Qiniso, shone in a gold-coloured Grecian-style dress, gold hat and Louboutin heels, which she said was a gift from her husband.
BRIGHT PRINT TRIM: De Lille. Photo: AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY/ANA
Former Cape Town mayor and now leader of the Good Party Patricia De Lille said her off-white kaftan dress with bright print trim was made from Ethiopian fabric in a nod to the enabling environment that country’s first female president, Sahle Work Zewdwe, has created for women.
The firebrand couldn’t resist slipping her new party into comments on the red carpet, saying of Ramaphosa’s SONA: “I’m expecting something good.”
DARING OUTFIT: Matthew and Lillian Wolmarans. Photo: AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY/ANA
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane looked angelic in a champagne coloured ball gown with an embellished sleeveless top.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane and his wife, Natalie, looked glam; him in a blue suit and her in a stunning white off-the-shoulder jumpsuit.
GLAM SLAM: DA leader Mmusi Maimane and his wife, Natalie, are uitgevat. Photo: AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY/ANA
Maimane was in fighting spirit and said: “This will be Cyril Ramaphosa’s last SONA.”
Police Minister Bheki Cele looked snazzy in a black suit and grey waistcoat, topped off with a black trilby with a rooi veertjie, while ANC MP Vatiswa Bam-Mugwanya showed off her stylish beaded glasses.
DRIPPING IN GOLD: Qiniso and Phumzile Van Damme. Photo: AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY/ANA
Two people who didn’t put in any effort, or maybe they put too much thought into their outfits, were EFF leaders Julius Malema and Floyd Shivambu who rocked their party’s signature red overalls.