President Jacob Zuma will deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) to Parliament on Thursday, 12 February 2015.
President Jacob Zuma is expected to address Parliament as the representative of the people of South Africa. This is an annual ceremony of state and this year it will be different since it’s the year of the general elections.
According to Parliament, there would be two SONAs this year. “During a general election year, there are two State of the Nation Addresses – one in February and another after the election and the establishment of the new Parliament. This will be the case next year (2014), when South Africans cast their votes for national and provincial leadership.”
Different members of the public will attend the address; they will form part of the Guards of Honour during the ceremony. They range from members of civil society, school learners and eminent people nominated by their Provincial Legislatures. Civil society organisations are also on the list of invitees.
SONA is also one of those rare occasions when the three arms of the state come together in one place: the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature.
FACT BOX:
The role of the Executive in Parliament:
The executive is tasked to make laws of the country. They make policies and discuss them with public by engaging with them in Public Hearings. According to Parliament, “As described in Chapter 5, the Constitution obliges the executive to respond to the needs of the people and encourage the public to participate in policy-making. It also stipulates that “transparency must be fostered by providing the public with timely, accessible and accurate information.”
The role of Judiciary in Parliament:
Judiciary is a body of judges and magistrates. It comprises the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of Appeal, High Courts, Magistrates Courts, and other courts established or recognised in terms of an Act of Parliament.
According to Parliament, “The Constitution states that the courts must be independent and act impartially. Organs of state such as Parliament and the executive must assist and protect the courts in order to ensure their independence, impartiality, dignity, accessibility and effectiveness.”
The role of the Legislature:
The national legislature or Parliament consists of two Houses, the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces, whose members are elected by the people of South Africa.
According to Parliament, “The national legislature or Parliament consists of two Houses, the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces, whose members are elected by the people of South Africa. Each House has its own distinct functions and powers, as set out in the Constitution. The National Assembly is responsible for choosing the President, passing laws, ensuring that the members of the executive perform their work properly and providing a forum where the representatives of the people can publicly debate issues. The National Council of Provinces is also involved in the law-making process and provides a forum for debate on issues affecting the provinces. Its main focus is ensuring that provincial interests are taken into account in the national sphere of government. In specific cases, local government representatives also participate in debates in the National Council of Provinces.”
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