Several Cape Town streets were closed to traffic on Tuesday evening as members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) started their rehearsal for the State of the Nation Address.
Roeland and Plein Streets were cordoned off as soldiers practiced the guard of honour and others marched to the sound of the marching band.
2 days to the FIRST State of the Nation address of the #6thParliament #SONA2019 pic.twitter.com/7REIjbWNdI
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) June 18, 2019
This is on the route that the presidential cavalcade will follow on Thursday evening ahead of the first SONA of the sixth democratic administration.
It is now an established tradition that the Defence Force will put on a display on the streets of the mother city to honour their commander in chief ahead of his address to the nation.
State of the Nation Address June 2019: Rehearsals, Parking Restrictions and Temporary Road Closures https://t.co/FOtINlwB2X #SONA2019 #6thParliament pic.twitter.com/IEbj4K2wUa
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) June 18, 2019
Hundreds of soldiers took part in Tuesday’s preparations.
The bands as well as the military parade entered the parliamentary precinct from the bottom of Parliament street to where President Cyril Ramaphosa will take the salute on the steps of the National Assembly building.
Only 2 days to the first State of the Nation address of the #6thParliament #SONA2019 pic.twitter.com/ely82wZppA
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) June 18, 2019
The soldiers, the majority of them looking like they are barely out of their teens, listened attentively as instructors shouted orders.
SONA 2019 speech related video…
