The Presidency on Thursday said it appreciates the participation of the public in the preparations for the State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“All inputs are valuable and are being taken into account in the President’s address to the nation,” said the Presidency.

The Presidency said it continues to receive a stream of constructive suggestions on what issues President Jacob Zuma should tackle in SONA on 12 February.

This after it invited inputs and suggestions from members of the public on Sunday, through social media, on issues people consider important for their well-being and those of their communities that should be included in the speech.

The Presidency said the social media campaign on Twitter and Facebook will run until the 6 February.

“As of this morning [Thursday], the invitation @PresidencyZA on Twitter had been seen by 27 871 people and received more than 2 000 comments. The Presidency Facebook page had reached 106 400 people, eliciting 1 504 comments and suggestions,” said the Presidency.

Inputs

The Presidency said it received diverse inputs although some of the dominant issues are small medium and micro enterprises development, education (the quality of basic education and increasing of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme budget), social development (revising social grants); crime and drugs (substance abuse and drug dealers).

Also on the list of dominant issues are corruption, housing, increase of public servants housing allowance, better salaries for police, teachers and mine workers, skills development, electricity or energy crisis, xenophobia, homophobia and the rise of racism, sustainable employment (jobs and internship opportunities), protection of rhinos, land ownership.

Legalisation of marijuana also appears on the list, as well as water shortages, health (state of public hospitals), road deaths, littering and South Africa’s role in peace keeping on the continent.