Parliament on State of the Nation Address readiness

It’s all systems go for Thursday’s State of the Nation Address, Parliament’s Presiding Officers indicated in their briefing to media today.

The address is the last one as we near the end of celebrations to mark 20 years of a democratic South Africa and enter the next decade of our democracy.

National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ms Baleka Mbete, National Council of Provinces Chairperson Ms Thandi Modise and their Deputies, Mr Lechesa Tsenoli and Mr Raseriti Tau, said questions or points of order were not expected to arise during the address. If that happened, the Speaker and the Chairperson would maintain order by applying the law, Parliamentary rules, practice, precedent and convention.

The State of the Nation Address, started 20 years ago by former President Nelson Mandela, is expected to bring together a cross-section of people at Parliament on Thursday evening, including:

  • 27 post-graduate students studying at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Stellenbosch University, the University of Cape Town and the University of the Western Cape
  • Representatives of statutory and Constitutional institutions
  • Heads of Mission (the diplomatic corps)
  • Representatives of the House of Traditional Leaders
  • The Mayor of Cape Town
  • Representatives from civil society organisations, religious bodies, state-owned enterprises, business and trade organisations, trade union federations, academic and research institutions
  • Members of the Judiciary
  • Directors-General of national government departments
  • Guests of political parties represented in Parliament – parties are allocated tickets for guests, proportional to their representational strength after the 2014 elections

Junior and Civil Guards of Honour and nine Eminent Persons will line the route from the Slave Lodge to the NA building. The Eminent Persons are selected by Provincial Legislatures, in recognition of their contribution to our democracy.

Again, a praise singer will lead the President into the NA Chamber - a female praise singer for the first time on Thursday when the praise song will be in Sepedi.

Please see fast facts below for more details about Thursday.

Fast Facts: State of the Nation Address

Thursday, 12 February 2015.
 
Public participation

President Nelson Mandela introduced the public participation element to this ceremony of state.

Eminent persons

One from each province, nominated by their Provincial Legislatures
1. Eastern Cape – Gilpin Gilbert Tozamile Matshayana
2. Free State – Mateyase Matthews Thekiso
3. Gauteng – Stephen Vusi Mbatha
4. KwaZulu-Natal – Nonceba Alicia Ntsevu
5. Limpopo – Noza Phineas Mathebula
6. Mpumalanga – Nomaqhawe Christle-Angriselder Bungane-Mtshweni
7. North West – Manko Mauble Legoale
8. Northern Cape – Clement Keshebang
9. Western Cape – Philip Bam

Junior Guard of Honour

Hundred (100) learners (25 each) from:
1. Hout Bay High School
2. Jan Kriel School (a school for learners with special needs)
3. Kayamandi High School
4. Silikamva High School, 

Civil Guard of Honour

Hundred (100) representatives (25 each) from:
1. Development Action Group – Established in 1986 as an organisation offering technical and professional advice to community groups threatened with forced removals. Urban focus
2. Simunye Development Project – Community-based organisation in Gugulethu, focusing on poverty alleviation
3. Social Change Assistance Trust - In existence for more than 26 years. Supports community based organisations by providing funds, fieldwork support and capacity-building. Annually supports about 60 rural community-based organisations throughout South Africa
4. Hope Africa – A development programme of the Anglican Church of South Africa.

Special guests of Parliament

Twenty Seven (27) post-graduate students pursuing studies in science, mathematics, engineering, chemistry, genetics, sustainable development, biodiversity and environmental issues from:
1. Cape Peninsula University of Technology
2. Stellenbosch University
3. University of Cape Town
4. University of the Western Cape

Praise singer

The praise singer welcomes the President into the National Assembly Chamber. This is the first time a female praise singer will carry this out at the State of the Nation Address.

Mrs Kgato Welminah Masemola from MmaMoshalela Section, Ga-Phaala Makhuduthamaga District in Limpopo.  Mrs Masemola is a well-known praise singer at weddings, funerals, parties and other official occasions/ceremonies in Makhuduthamaga District of Sekhukhuneland. She was also invited to Qunu to be the praise singer of Mandla Mandela during the official handing-over of the Mandela Tribe from the late Tata Mandela to Mandla Mandela.

The praise song will be in Sepedi.

Entertainers

Along the procession route from the Slave Lodge to the National Assembly building steps

  • AmaAmbush - Cape Town based group specialising in African marimba. Have won prizes in competitions such as the National Marimba Competition held in Johannesburg and received a cultural award from the Western Cape Provincial Government. Have toured Argentina, Germany, Italy and the United States of America.
  • Yona Yeth - music, dance and drama group from Masiphumelele, near Fish Hoek

At the four functions in the Parliamentary precinct immediately after the address

  • Horison’s Tale – Comprising Zoë Mazula (vocals); Vusa Mazula (guitar/vocals) and Gary King (keyboards /BVs) who play original and cover tracks.
  • Sterling EQ - All-woman group which has won several awards, including a 2011 South African Music Awards
  • Vuthela – Trio, consisting of two marimbas and a saxophone and formed in 1998.  From Paarl in the Western Cape.
  • South African Naval Entertainment Band

Broadcast of the address

The State of the Nation Address will be broadcast live on radio and television and at public viewing sites in all provinces. The debate in Parliament on the address and the President’s reply will be streamed live on Parliament’s website, broadcast live on Parliament TV  DSTV channel 408 and on Parliament’s YouTube channel.

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