Parliament ready to host this year’s SONA
President Jacob Zuma will deliver his SONA during a joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday, 9 February.
Secretary to Parliament, Gengezi Mgidlana said Parliament is ready to host this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). President Jacob Zuma will deliver his SONA during a joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday, 9 February at 7pm. The speech will be broadcast live on the Parliamentary channel and by other media outlets.
“The preparations on our side started as early as last year. We started around October when we had received as Parliament the request by the President, the Speaker and the Chairperson to embark on the preparations for SONA.”
“We are pleased to report to you that those plans and preparations have gone very well, with the teams that we established across the board working together in order to make sure that they deliver a good event, a good occasion for the President, who will be presenting his State of the Nation Address to the [public], that is looking forward to receive [his inputs],” he said.
As part of the preparations, Parliamentary officials convened meetings with key stakeholders involved in the organisations of the event on an annual basis, including several government departments. Invitations to members of the public across various sectors, wishing to attend SONA activities, were sent out last year and were closed in December.
Those invited include prominent persons, institutions supporting the Constitution, NGOs, religious institutions, students, pensioners, small businesses, diplomats and guests of the President, among others.
The Parliamentary theme for this year’s SONA will be anchored on the 20th anniversary of the Constitution. Road closures around the Parliamentary precinct will commence from 7 February in phases.
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