The budget for this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) has been slashed to R3.6 million. Just two years ago, it was nearly double that figure.
Secretary to Parliament Gengezi Mgidlana also told the media that security assessments are underway with various state agencies. Parliament has already been informed to prepare for protests marches during SONA. President Jacob Zuma will outline government’s plans for the year.
Mgidlana says controlling access to Parliament is crucial. This year, Parliament received 800 accreditation requests, just from the media. “We of course do not manage the issue of organisations that may or may not march, that as you would know is managed through the council, people make applications to the council, what we know is that there may be a march from Ses’khona and perhaps maybe the students.”
The Ses’khona movement is well known for its so-called poo protests in the city centre but it is up to the various security agencies and the City of Cape Town to maintain control outside Parliament’s gates.
Mgidlana assured journalists, that the protection of the National Assembly will remain in the hands of Parliament’s own protection services. “We are not seeing any dilution of our work and also we have to say very clearly and categorically we are not having any takeover of functions that Parliament does by other agencies.”
Parliament had been criticised on previous occasions for allowing the South African Police Services to enter its chambers and physically remove Members of Parliament. However, this year’s SONA takes place under the new rules for joint sittings, which are very clear on dealing with any disruptions in the house.
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