All set for State of the Province Address

The Speaker of the Provincial Legislature, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya and her deputy, Jerry Ndou have declared that it is all systems go for the official opening of the Legislature and the State of the Province Address (Sopa) that is expected to be delivered by Premier Stan Mathabatha at Jack Botes Hall today (Thursday).
During the Pre-Sopa media briefing at the Polokwane Council Chamber boardroom on Tuesday afternoon they outlined that R3,5 million had been set aside for the occasion with R2,8 million of the budget spent. When briefing the media, Ndou indicated that the Sopa was an important event for the people of Limpopo because it outlined the progress made by Provincial Government since Mathabatha’s previous Sopa. He emphasised that the Sopa would further outline programmes that can be expected in the 2020/21 financial year and which aimed at improving the citizens’ of Limpopo’s lives.

“We are expecting more than 800 invited guests and will be ready to welcome them at the venue from 07:00. The guests will be entertained by the Bapedi and Amandebele Cultural groups as well as the Legislature choir. Learners from various schools will form a junior guard of honour on the day. We expect guests to be seated by 09:30 in the Jack Botes Hall, which will be declared a precinct of the Legislature by the Speaker,” Ndou explained.
He cautioned motorists to use alternative routes as Thabo Mbeki, Rabe, Biccard, Bodenstein, Landdros Mare, Hans Van Rensburg, Church and Schoeman streets will be temporarily closed to allow for the logistics to run smoothly.
When asked if safety measures were in place to deal with any disorder that may occur in the house, Lerule-Ramakhanya indicated that law enforcement officials would be present and ready to handle any act of disorder both inside and outside the hall. She added the corner of Bodenstein and President Paul Kruger streets would serve as Speaker’s Corner for anyone who wanted to embark on protest action and hand over copies of memoranda of grievances.
According to Lerule-Ramakhanya provision has also been made for an overflow area in the hall to accommodate more guests while members of the public who cannot make it to the venue can listen to the address on various local radio stations or watch proceedings on the Parliamentary channel.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za