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Tweet Zuma the State of your Nation

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6 February 2012

President Jacob Zuma will once more be using social networking - this time including Twitter - to find out what's on South Africans' minds ahead of this week's State of the Nation Address.

In a statement on Sunday, Zuma's office said South Africans were invited to submit comments "that they would like the President to consider mentioning in his State of the Nation Address", to be delivered in Parliament, Cape Town at 7pm on Thursday.

Comments can be sent via the President's personal Twitter account @SAPresident, or by using #PresidentSona, or via the Presidency's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PresidencyZA. E-mails can also be sent to president@po.gov.za.

Ahead of last year's State of the Nation Address, citizens used Facebook to draw Zuma's attention to local service delivery challenges.

Bongokuhle Miya from uMzimkhulu in KwaZulu-Natal complained about sewage overflow in his town, flooding of the town street when it rained, and the prevalence of stray animals on the streets.

"Since then, the town sewerage pipe upgrade is in the final stages of completion, new treatment facilities have been completed, road realignment and storm water system upgrade is under design, and an animal pound is being completed to contain stray animals," the Presidency said.

Portia Mrwetyana from Bekkersdal in Gauteng province, meanwhile, complained about a shortage of low-cost housing in her township.

"When the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Department assessed how government could assist Ms Mrwetyana and her family and community, it was discovered that houses could not be built in the informal settlement where she lives because the land is dolomitic and is subject to sinkholes," the Presidency said.

"Government has begun a programme of resettling Ms Mrwetyana's community to the neighbouring municipality of Mohlakeng, where land is suitable for building houses and providing basic services."

Zuma's 2012 State of the Nation address will be broadcast live on national radio and television.

SAinfo reporter