Final preparations are underway for today’s State of the Nation Address. Real-time rehearsals took place last night with participants in the ceremony, including Junior and Civil Guards of Honour.
The occasion with its public participation component, started by former President Nelson Mandela, is expected to bring together a cross-section of people, including: Learners from high schools who form the Junior Guard Civil society organisation, representatives who form the Civil Guard of Honour, Eminent Persons – one from each of the nine provinces – who also line the procession route27 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 Diplomatic Missions, representatives of the House of Traditional Leaders, The Executive Mayor of Cape Town, representatives from religious bodies, state-owned enterprises, business and trade organisations, trade union federations, academic and research institutions and Members of the Judiciary
The first Speaker of the democratic Parliament’s National Assembly Dr Frene Ginwala, former President Mr FW de Klerk, former President Mr Thabo Mbeki, the First Vice President of the Pan African Parliament Mr Roger Nkondo Dang and Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania and Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum Ms Anne Makinda have also confirmed their attendance.
The ceremony starts at around 17.35 and the President delivers the State of the Nation Address to the joint sitting of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces at 19h00.
The National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union informed Parliament yesterday that certain of its members would not work overtime today. The affected areas are catering, transport and ushering and Parliament will ensure these areas are serviced.
Parliament’s Presiding Officers are confident that the institution will do all in its power to again host a successful State of the Nation Address today, as has been the case for the past 20 years of our democracy.
