The Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni today announces that the official opening of the second session of the fourth KwaZulu-Natal Legislature will take place on 23 February at the Royal Agricultural Show Grounds’ Olympia Hall in Pietermaritzburg.
As per the legislature’s standing rules, His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini will officially open the legislature and deliver a keynote address to the house.
The Speaker said: “We are very grateful to his majesty for his continued association with our legislature and for performing this important task with decorum for many years”.
Speaker Nkonyeni further said that: “The official opening of the legislature marks the beginning of the business of the legislature for the current year. The legislature will be hard at work this year to ensure that all government departments deliver quality services to the people of KwaZulu-Natal. In this respect, the legislature and its committees will perform robust oversight over provincial departments to ensure prudent spending of budgets and accelerated service delivery in all communities with special focus in rural areas”.
The opening of the legislature will be followed by the State of the Province Address by Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize on February 24 at the same venue. The premier’s address will outline the key priorities and programmes of the provincial government during 2010. He will address the people of KwaZulu-Natal and use the opportunity to recommit his government to improved and faster service delivery to bring about a better life to all the citizens of the province.
On 25 February, all parties represented in the house will debate the premier’s address in the legislature chamber. The opening of the legislature and the State of the Province Address will be held at the Royal Show Grounds in order to accommodate more members of the public. This is in keeping with the legislature’s commitment to enhance public participation in its activities and processes.
Amongst invited guests include: diplomats, business leaders, religious leaders, the royal household, amakhosi, Speakers of Provincial Legislatures, National Council of Provinces (NCOP) members, district and local mayors. The media will use gate five and precede to the accreditation room (Parklane) at the show grounds where they will receive accreditation cards.
Accreditation will enable the media to proceed to Olympia hall where they will be seated in an area designated for journalists. The media centre, Parklane House, will be available for members of the media for use during the two days of the sitting at the Royal Show Grounds. The sitting starts at 09h00 on both days.
Contact:
Sina Wiseman Nxumalo
Tel: 033 355 7713
Cell: 082 9060 449
Fax: 033 355 7699
E-mail: nxumalow@kznlegislature.gov.za
Issued by: Provincial Legislature, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
17 February 2010
Source: Provincial Legislature, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kznlegislature.gov.za/)
