President Jacob Zuma can’t wait for SONA 2017 tonight

South Africa’s annual State of the Nation Address, or SONA, will be given by the country’s president Jacob Zuma in Cape Town later today. For Capetonians, that means awful traffic congestion leading out of the city. For South Africans, this means an annual update on the government’s countrywide plans.

Regarding the latter, it seems that President Zuma just can’t wait to talk to his citizens.

The South African Government’s official Twitter account posted an update earlier today, featuring a 16 second clip of Zuma expressing his excitement to address the nation.

“Today we are looking forward to the State of the Nation Address,” he explains.

“The time has come, the day has come, wherein we are going to be talking to the nation. And we are very happy that this moment has come.”

President Jacob Zuma is looking forward to talking to the nation at #SONA2017 tonight. Watch his message here: pic.twitter.com/CqZL8LbIbH

— South African Gov (@GovernmentZA) February 9, 2017

Prior to SONA though, the South African public has taken to Twitter to express their excitement.

President Jacob Zuma will tonight deliver his State of the Nation Address to South Africans

Users are highlighting the biggest talking points in the lead up to the Address, including the deployment of army troops in Cape Town, and the (extremely unlikely) possibility of the President stepping down from his role as the head of South Africa today.

When you’re so at war with your own citizens that you have to deploy an army in the streets to addres them. #SONA2017 #Zuma

— JosKangaRoux (@josleroux) February 9, 2017

Jacob Zuma deploys 441 soldiers to protect Parliament, yet Zuma will deploy dololo soldiers to fight crime #SONA2017 pic.twitter.com/LQAs74F3GG

— IG:AdvBarryRoux (@Barry_Roux) February 8, 2017

The great coach of SANDF FC, Jacob Zuma will be playing 442 (441 + Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula) tonight when his team comes against Peoples Team

— Mandisi Hashim Alma (@RealMandisi) February 9, 2017

I hope that this will be Zuma’s last state of the nation address #SONA2017

— SeeFisO (@dagalela) February 9, 2017

The best thing that will ever happen to #SONA2017 is #Zuma to resign and leave our SA in peace , we still have a long way to catch up !

— V Paps Khumalo (@vongani2) February 9, 2017

Some have also found a way to drag Beyonce into this too.

President ZUMA will be walking into #SONA2017 like: pic.twitter.com/k5DzH5FxL3

— Billionaire (@B_BRYTON) February 9, 2017

The actual address given by Zuma will begin at 7pm SAST.

Be sure to stay tuned to Memeburn, in addition to our Twitter and Facebook accounts, for continued social analysis and #SONA2017 news throughout the day.

Feature image: GovernmentZA via Flickr (CC 2.0, resized)