Former presidents Thabo Mbeki and FW De Klerk are some of the people who have been invited to attend the 2016 leg of the State of the nation address (SONA) in Cape Town on February 11.
Secretary to Parliament Gengezi Mgidlana has confirmed that R3.6-million was budgeted for the 2016 SONA, some R400 000 less than the R4-million price tag for the 2015 event.
Parliament spent R9-million in 2014, a general election year in which two State of the Nation Addresses were held. Mqidlana also confirmed there would be no post-SONA dinner this year as part of government’s cost-cutting measures.
The 2016 SONA will also see the most number of accredited local and foreign media cover the event, 800. Thus far, only 727 media applications had been granted. Media facilities will cost approximately R475 000.
Once the State of the Nation Address is completed, provinces hold their version of the annual event to prepare for the political year ahead. This year, Free State will be first to hold its State of the Province Address (SOPA); the annual event will be held on 16 February at 09h00.
The Northern Cape will host its SOPA on the 18th, the Western Cape and Eastern Cape on the 19th, Gauteng on the 23rd, KwaZulu-Natal on the 25th and Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the North West on the 26 of February.
Sequence of events on SONA day
16.00 to 17.30
MPs, including Cabinet Ministers and their guests & guests of Parliament and the Presidency arrive at the Poorthuys entrance to the Old Assembly building:
17.00 to 17.45
Members of the Judiciary, Provincial Premiers, Speakers of Provincial Legislatures, Members of Executive Committees, the Executive Mayor of Cape Town and heads of mission arrive in Government Avenue in the Company Gardens;
17.30 to 18.00 Principal dignitaries arrive at the front entrance to the National Assembly building; 18.25 to 18.45 Processions from the Slave Lodge or the gates of Parliament leave in the following order and proceed up Parliament Street to the National Assembly building;
Provincial Premiers
Speakers of Provincial Legislatures
PROVINCE PREMIER SPEAKER
Eastern Cape Phumulo Masualle Noxolo Kieviets
Free State Ace Magashule Sizwe Mbalo (acting)
Gauteng David Makhura Ntombi Mekgwe
KwaZulu-Natal Senzo Mchunu Lydia Johnson
Limpopo Stanley Mathabatha Meriam Ramadwa
Mpumalanga David Mabuza Thandi Shongwe
Northern Cape Sylvia Lucas Kenny Moiemang
North West Supra Mahumapelo SR Dantjie
Western Cape Helen Zille Sharna Fernandez
SOURCE: www.gov.za (and relevant provincial legislature pages, accessed in May 2014 & February 2015)
The Judiciary
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy Speaker of Parliament’s National Assembly Mr Lechesa Tsenoli, Deputy Chairperson of Parliament’s National Council of Provinces, Mr Raseriti Johannes Tau;
President Jacob Zuma, accompanied by one of the President’s spouses, Speaker of Parliament’s National Assembly Baleka Mbete, Chairperson of Parliament’s National Council of Provinces Thandi Modise, the Secretary to Parliament;
18.55
The President takes the national salute on a podium outside the National Assembly building. At that time, the military band, the Navy Band on this occasion, set up to the right of the National Assembly building, plays the national anthem, there is a 21-gun salute and a salute flight by the South African Air Force; 19.00
The President begins his State of the Nation Address in the National Assembly Chamber
The procession
Significance of the Presidential procession to the National Assembly Chamber The ceremony, which starts at the Slave Lodge, just outside the entrance to the Parliamentary precinct, is a combination of public participation and a formal state ceremony.
It is normally an annual (there are two in an election year) ceremony of state at which the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature play out their constitutional roles in full view of the nation.
The public participation part of the procession is important because Parliament strives to make the institution accessible to people and to encourage public participation in its workings.
Former President Nelson Mandela introduced the public participation component. The first part of the procession from the Slave Lodge to the gates of Parliament involves a military guard of honour. From the entrance to the Parliamentary precinct, members of the South African public line the red carpet.
There is a Junior Guard of Honour from the entrance of Parliamentary precinct to the end of the National Council of Provinces building. A Civil Guard of Honour and nine Eminent Persons line the route after this until the end of the Old Assembly Wing. Entertainers also perform along the public participation section of the route. From the end of the Old Assembly Wing, the procession becomes part of a formal, state ceremony.
A Ceremonial Military Guard of Honour takes up a position in front of the New Wing in which the National Assembly Chamber is located and a military band – the Air Force Band – sets up to the right of the New Wing (the side nearest Tuynhuys) and plays the national anthem.
A 21-gun salute and an Air Force fly-past takes place while the President takes the national salute from a special dais.
The red carpet Rolling out a red carpet was originally reserved for kings and queens and signified a welcome of great hospitality and ceremony. Over time, the red carpet was also used to welcome Heads of State.
The 21-gun salute
The tradition of rendering a salute by firing cannon originated in the 14th century when cannon and firearms came into use. Originally, warships fired seven-gun salutes, seven probably chosen because of the number’s astronomical and Biblical significance.
In 1842, the 21-gun salute became the international norm for the highest honour a nation rendered and it is fired in honour of the Head of State, the national flag, a visit from the Head of State of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family and a former Head of State.
The 2016 public participation segment
Eminent Persons – One from each province, nominated by their Provincial Legislatures
Junior Guard of Honour – 100 learners (25 each)
Civil Guard of Honour – 100 representatives (25 each)
Special Guests of Parliament
Entertainment
Entertainment at the four functions in the Parliamentary precinct immediately after the address
SOURCE: http://www.pa.org.za/blog/parliament-2016-what-expect
– By SABC Research team
