Cape Town - The National Assembly public gallery was a sea of green, yellow and black - the colours of the ANC - when President Jacob Zuma responded to this week's state-of-the-nation debate on Thursday.
African National Congress Women's League members packed one of the gallery bays - an area usually reserved for VIP guests like former presidents and foreign dignitaries.
MPs were more formally dressed than usual, although not in the expensive finery on display when Zuma delivered his state-of-the-nation address last week.
The house erupted in applause when Zuma took to the podium, but there was none of the ululating which has accompanied his previous appearances.
Zuma is responding to a host of concerns raised by MPs during a fiery two-day debate on his speech. - Sapa