Zuma falls asleep during budget speech

 As South Africa’s  Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan delivered a sober message in Parliament last Wednesday during the nation’s 20th medium-term budget policy statement, parliament camera’s caught President Jacob Zuma sleeping. A recording of the session has been posted on the South African parliament’s YouTube channel and Mr Zuma can be seen slumped to one side […]

 As South Africa’s  Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan delivered a sober message in Parliament last Wednesday during the nation’s 20th medium-term budget policy statement, parliament camera’s caught President Jacob Zuma sleeping.

A recording of the session has been posted on the South African parliament’s YouTube channel and Mr Zuma can be seen slumped to one side . At the one hour 15-minute point, Mr Zuma is back up, rubbing his eyes, apparently roused by applause in the house for Mr Gordhan’s statement . Mr Zuma’s office has not yet commented on the reports, and the 74-year-old’s apparent moment of weakness has been met with amusement rather than outrage in South Africa.