Red carpet guests gather for SONA amid unhappy security staff and protesters

11 February 2016 - 19:04 By Gabi Mbele

Protesting Seskhona members kept the South African Police Service members on their toes around the Parliament district on Thursday. At around 3pm close to 300 members broke through the cordoned off streets closest to the national house - chanting songs about Zuma.Media was kept clear from the action as more than 50 police officer disembarked from five military style troop carriers. A water cannon was used to try and disperse the resilient crowds."Abeze (let them come"‚ screamed one man as the crowds booed and clapped at the sign of the police.But within 15 minutes they were forcefully pushed back and things were back to their normal security form.Amid the barrage of police presence were security personnel ushering people into their respective places but their tales were far from pleasant.One security official from Khayelitsha‚ who refused to be named‚ she'd been positioned near the entrance since 7am and wasn't allowed to take a break until 7pm when all people were inside the parliament."We only getting R200 for the day‚ which we'll only get after three working days. I had to borrow money to catch a train here and back."I'll only be released at 10am and I'm so broke all I've had was porridge in the morning and a juice that one cop was nice enough to share‚" she said.Once inside the grounds‚ it was nothing but smiles and fashion. Older guests played it safe with traditional garments‚ some dared the six-inch heel while others kept it simple in their Green Cross sandals.For the younger maidens like Zamaphemba Ntuli‚ a guest of Mpumalanga MP Pat Sibande‚ it was about showing what your momma gave you.Ntuli arrived wearing all-white top and a pencil skirt‚ which she paired with animal print heels. She topped her outfit with isigcolo (Zulu hat) and matching beads."I wanted to fuse Western and Zulu culture and this is what I came up with‚" she said.Looking stunning in Ndebele regalia was Ninini Masango‚ the wife of MP Siphosezwe from KwaMhlanga in Mpumalanga."I wore this because I'm a proud Ndebele wife‚" she said...

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