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Nothing will stop Zuma from delivering SONA: Mbalula

Cape Town - Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula on Thursday said he was not fazed by the protest action happening outside Parliament ahead of the State of the Nation address (SONA).

Mbalula said the protesters were exercising their democratic right but should understand that there are parameters to everything. 

"For anything that will happen which is out of bounds, this Parliament is capable of dealing with that," he said. 

He said that come what may, Zuma would finish his address. 

"Nothing will stop President Zuma from finishing and delivering his speech here today. That I know for sure," Mbalula said. 

Last year's SONA was marred by disruptions by EFF members who demanded answers on when he would pay back state funds which were used towards the upgrades at his Nkandla homestead. 

The EFF members were physically removed from the House while DA MP's staged a walk out. 

Meanwhile, National Freedom Party MP, Ahmed Shaik-Emam said if anything, he wished that Zuma would give them answers surrounding the removal of Nhlanhla Nene from his minister of finance position.

Shaik-Emam said he was expecting Zuma to "have an ace up his sleeve."

News24 asked African Christian Democratic Party leader Kenneth Meshoe what he expected to hear during the president's speech. 

"Fireworks. Fireworks as usual," he said. 

Asked whether he was ready to handle those fireworks Meshoe jokingly replied: "Yes we are. We have all the extinguishers here... and the firepool," he said. 

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