Political analysts described President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) as dull and ordinary, but the red carpet was anything but boring!

The #SONA2016 red carpet was a major hit on social media, with Public Protector Thuli Madonsela surprisingly stealing the show.

Mandla Mandela may have been booed on his way to Parliament, but no one could deny that the Mvezo Chief delivered on the red carpet for a fourth year in a row.

Mandla did not pitch up with his new Muslim bride, Rabia Clarke, and instead showed up with the woman who has always been on his arm at SONA red carpets, Nodiyala Mbali Makhathini.

Some revellers chanted “sell-out” and "askari" at the couple. But Mandla and Nodiyala kept their composure.

Here’s a look at the red carpet winners from the #SONA2016 red carpet.

READ: #SONA16: A look back at fashion hits & misses

Razzmatazz, Fikile Mbalula & his wife Nozuko

(Image credit: Twitter/MbalulaFikile)

Bheki Cele & his wife Thembeka

(Image credit: Instagram/lmtailored)

Miss Thuli Madonsela

(Image credit: Twitter/PaulivW)

Some Twitter users felt Thuli's dress looked a lot like the one Bonang Matheba wore to the Durban July. Both dresses were designed by Gert Johan Coetzee. 

Minnie Dlamini also wore a similar Gert Johan Coetzee design to the PSL awards in 2015. Gert is really a BIG yellow dress fan!

(Image credit: Instagram/minnedlamini)

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba & his wife Norma

(Image credit: Instagram/lmtailored)

Mandla Mandela and Nodiyala

(Image credit: Twitter/SAgovnews)

And then….

Eish, Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor got major flak for her #SONA2016 look. Some Twitter users joked she was wearing a duvet, while others said she tried, and failed, to channel Halle Berry's 2001 Oscar look. Come on guys, Miss Pandor is 62, did you really expect her to arrive in a Gert Johan Coetzee show stopper? 

(Image credit: Twitter/janetheard)