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President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead a candle lighting ceremony with National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise and National Council of Provinces President Amos Masonda before taking the podium at 7pm.
FILE: President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses a joint session of Parliament on October 15, 2020. Image: @ PresidencyZA / Twitter.
CAPE TOWN – Parliament said Wednesday it was confident that all would work out during Thursday’s State of the Nation (Sona) address.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead a candle lighting ceremony with National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise and National Council of Provinces President Amos Masonda before taking the podium at 7pm.
The ceremony will be in remembrance of all the lives lost due to COVID-19.
While the roads around Parliament will be closed, security inside the compound will be minimal as only 50 people will be physically present in the chamber, while the rest will go online.
This will be the first state of the nation address to take place without its usual red carpet frills, processions and military flights, and it is likely to be a somber and dignified event.
Parliament spokesman Moloto Mothapo said that all systems are working: “Yesterday, the presidents received a final briefing on Parliament’s preparations to host the 2021 state of the nation address from the institution’s Sona project team. We trust that tomorrow everything will go well for the accommodation of the first hybrid Sona. “
Of the 50 people allowed in the chamber, 30 will be members of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. Vice President David Mabuza will be there, as will Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo and Supreme Court of Appeal Justice Dumisani Zondi to represent the judiciary.
Among the guests and dignitaries joining online are former President Thabo Mbeki, former Vice President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former President Baleka Mbete and former NCOP President Mninwa Mahlangu.
The webinar can link up to 1,000 people, but there will be no point of order on the night when the stage is only for President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The parties will debate his speech on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, and Ramaphosa will respond to the debate next Thursday.
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