‘Limpopo Legislature ready to host a very successful Sopa’
Speaker of the Limpopo Legislature, Polly Boshielo addressed the media yesterday afternoon (Wednesday) about the state of readiness for the State of the Province Address 2018 (Sopa), to be delivered at the Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane on Friday.
POLOKWANE – She predicted rain – as it usually does during the Sopa.
She outlined the main purpose of Sopa, which is to provide the Premier of Limpopo an opportunity to address the citizens of Limpopo on the progress made by government in delivering services to the people and also to outline government’s programmes for the 2018/19 financial year.
She said the Limpopo Legislature, as part of their constitutional mandate, hold the government accountable on how programmes are being implemented.
Boshielo said some 900 guests will attend the Sopa from all spheres and all key stakeholders were involved: Police, Government Departments, the Legislature, business people, Municipalities, the disabled, as it is also an event to promote intergovernmental relations.
“All preparations have been done, and we are confident that the Limpopo Legislature will host a very successful Sopa. Normal security measures will be implemented in order to ensure that all our guests are safe. As a province we pride ourselves with maintaining a record of incident-free Sopa events.”
https://www.citizen.co.za/review-online/253221/take-note-road-closures-ahead-state-province-address/
The Jack Botes Hall and surrounds will be declared a precinct of the Legislature on Friday before the event starts.
Boshielo said the current Legislature has its challenges pertaining to space, and the Jack Botes hall can accommodate more people. She said costs have also been cut in recent years, as there is no necessity to hire tents for catering. No gala dinner is held following the Sopa any more, and huge screens and bussing people to these events have been stopped, as the Sopa is broadcast live by community radio stations all over the province. “Budget is always a challenge, but we have cut costs since 2016, when I was appointed as Speaker.”
She announced that the Legislature will ensure that the Sopa 2018 speech is widely broadcast in order to reach the public within and outside the province. “The speech will be live on DSTV channel 408, SABC Combo, and the following community radio stations in Limpopo: Zebediela FM, Mohodi FM, Sekhukhune FM, Moutse FM, Mokopane FM, Waterberg Waves, Phalaborwa FM, Sekgosese FM, Musina FM and Makhado FM.”
She said the Legislature appreciated the important role played by media in ensuring that the public knews what is happening in the country.
She said all guests are expected to be seated at 09:30.
The Sopa will be debated in the Legislature on Tuesday and the premier will reply on Thursday next week in the Legislature in Lebowakgomo. The budget speech will be tabled on 6 March, where after the departments will table their budgets in the Legislature, two to three departments at a time.
