SONA debate: Heavy security around Parliament
The parliamentary precinct was surrounded by barbed wire and a heavy police presence ahead of President Jacob Zuma's response to the State of the Nation Address debate today.
A number of police nyalas and vans were stationed around the legislative capital.
The Democratic Alliance has expressed concern regarding the heightened security, likening it to a prison.
"The President has been in Parliament for the past two days with no incident," DA chief whip John Steenhuisen said.
"Today however, reams of barbed wire have been rolled out around Parliament and a heavy police contingent has been deployed on the precinct without any warning or explanation to party whips."
He said the official opposition would submit questions to the relevant ministries to determine the exact cost of the security measures and request an urgent Parliamentary oversight authority briefing on the matter.
After two days of heated debates and the airing of dirty laundry in Parliament, Zuma will get his chance to reply today.
The president delivered his State of the Nation Address in Parliament on February 11.
During the SONA last week, protests broke out in the streets around Parliament, forcing police to use stun grenades to push protesters back away from the precinct.
(File photo: Gallo Images)