Parliament on press arrangements for State of the Nation Address

3 February 2009

General
Press will be restricted to designated areas.
 
Please do:

* follow instructions from media management officials and security
personnel
* keep three metres away from the Presidential procession at all times
* interview members of the Junior Guard of Honour, the Civil Guard of Honour
and the Eminent Persons only from 9h00 to not later than 10h00 – to give them
time to get back into position before the procession from the Slave Lodge to
the steps of the new wing begins
* interview and take photos in the area to the right of the new wing steps
after the State of the Nation Address – not at the exit from the National
Assembly Chamber or the new wing or on the steps of the new wing.
 
Please don’t:

* step onto the red carpet before and while the presidential procession is
in progress
* try to interview the president or any other person who is part of the
procession while the procession is in progress
* try to doorstop Members of Parliament (MPs) or other guests at the exit from
the National Assembly Chamber or on the steps of the new wing after the State
of the Nation Address
* erect temporary structures on the parliamentary precinct for which you have
not submitted a service provider clearance certificate and have no approval
from parliament’s protection services and the South African Police Service
(SAPS) based at parliament
* use a flash when photographing inside the National Assembly Chamber.

Registration
Venue: Courtyard behind the Imbizo Media Centre, Government Communication and
Information System, 120 Plein Street
Time: 06h30 to 09h00.
 
Please bring along official identification (identity document or passport),
when collecting your accreditation.
 
Seating in the National Assembly Chamber

Press accredited with access to the National Assembly Chamber must be seated
in the press gallery by 10h00. The doors to the National Assembly Chamber will
be closed to the public at 10h00.

Photographers

There will be two separate roving pools:
* One roving pool from the slave lodge to the entrance of the new wing.
* One pool stationed inside the National Assembly Chamber – near the doors and
in the public gallery.
Photo opportunities outside the National Assembly Chamber (times are
provisional and subject to change)
Time: 08h00 to 09h30 – entry to Old Assembly Chamber from Government Avenue in
the Company Gardens

Arrival of VIPs (members of the Judiciary, Speakers of Provincial
Legislatures, Provincial Premiers and Diplomats)

Time: 09h30 to 10h10 – main entrance to the new wing in which the National
Assembly Chamber is located
Arrival of former Presidents, former Deputy Presidents, the former National
Assembly Speaker and former Chief Justice.

Time: 10h20 – Procession from Slave Lodge
Procession of Premiers, Speakers of Provincial Legislatures, Judiciary,
Parliament’s Presiding Officers, Deputy President and President.
 
Time: 10h50 – National salute on dais outside the new wing.
After the State of the Nation Address – official photo on the steps leading to
the National Assembly Chamber.
 
Photo opportunities inside the National Assembly Chamber

The President entering the foyer of the National Assembly Chamber.
The President delivering his State of the Nation Address in the Chamber.
 
Basic order of proceedings

* Judiciary, Speakers of Provincial Legislatures, Provincial Premiers, and
Diplomats arrive at the Company Gardens entrance to the Old Assembly.
* Junior and Civil Guards of Honour and Eminent Persons take up positions along
Parliament Street from the entrance to the Parliamentary precinct.
* Former Presidents, former Deputy Presidents, the former National Assembly
Speaker and former Chief Justice arrive at the entrance to the New Wing.
* Procession of Premiers, Speakers of Provincial Legislatures, Judiciary,
Parliament’s Presiding Officers, Deputy President and President.
* The President takes the national salute on the dais outside the New
Wing.
* The President delivers his State of the Nation Address.
* Parliament’s Presiding Officers adjourn the Joint Sitting of the National
Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.
* The President, Deputy President and Parliament’s Presiding Officers leave the
National Assembly Chamber for an official photograph outside the entrance to
the National Assembly Chamber.
* Guests and Members of Parliament leave the National Assembly Chamber.
 
Contact numbers
Parliamentary Communication Services
* Estelle Randall:
Cell: 076 027 2181
* Lokile Molefe:
Cell: 072 296 4336
 
Government Communication and Information System
* Colin Cruywagen:
Cell: 082 377 9916
* Tuso Zibula:
Cell: 072 127 1565

Issued by: Parliament of South Africa
3 February 2009
Source: Parliament of South Africa (http://www.parliament.gov.za)