The President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma, will deliver his annual address to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday, 29 October 2009 under the theme “Together finding solutions to achieving the goal of a better quality of life for all.”
The President has an opportunity to address the NCOP formally once a year. The President’s address normally takes place towards the end of the calendar year.
In the past, the address coincided with the NCOP sitting in a province as part of the taking parliament to the people programme, giving the President an opportunity to address the house away from Parliament.
The NCOP would use the opportunity of the President’s annual address, which is a mid-financial year engagement, to assess government’s performance towards meeting priorities presented by the President in his State of the Nation (SONA). So far the NCOP has not been participating in the debate on SONA, making the President’s address to the house a unique and important occasion.
Premiers of the different provinces are expected to participate in the debate and report on the work of their provinces. Representatives of organised local government will also participate in the debate.
Details of the address are as follows:
Date: 29 October 2009
Venue: NCOP Chamber, Old Assembly
Time: 14h00
Journalists who are not members of the Press Gallery Association (PGA) and who wish to attend the event should forward their details no later than Tuesday, 27 October 2009 to:
Khuthala Noah
Tel: 021 403 3424
E-mail: Knoah@parliament.gov.za
Nolizwi Magwagwa
E-mail: nmagwagwa@parliament.gov.za
Tel: 021 403 2465
Estelle Randall
E-mail: erandall@parliament.gov.za
Details required are: Full name, ID/passport number, name of media organisation, designation (writer, photographer, for example), telephone number, and cell phone number.
Media who wish to broadcast from the grounds of Parliament should also provide: Make of vehicle(s), registration number(s), number of vehicles, other equipment, and time of arrival.
Issued by: Parliament of South Africa
26 October 2009
