The City Hall in Cape Town will officially be handed over to Parliament’s Presiding Officers on Monday. The venue will be used to host the State of the Nation Address (Sona) in 10 days time.
The ceremonial handover will be done by Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
The mayor availed the Hall to be used by Parliament following the fire that gutted the Old and New National Assembly buildings almost a month ago.
The video below is reporting on the Parliament fire:
After the handing over the City Hall, the area is expected to be officially declared a parliamentary precinct.
Sona will be delivered from the City Hall on the 10th February, just a day before marking the day when late former President Nelson Mandela made his famous speech from the Hall’s balcony 32 years ago.
This was on the day when he was released from the then Victor Verster Prison on 11 February 1990.
Hill-Lewis says the venue will also be utilised for the Sona Debate the following week. It will be the first time since the dawn of democracy that Sona will not be held in the National Assembly Chamber.
Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo says the work of the National Assembly will continue:
