BLOGGING THE VIEW: Fast facts about the State of the Nation Address (SONA)
With load-shedding and controversial investment proposals, among others, the president will have a lot to answer for
On 9 February – incidentally three years to the date since Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala robbery occurred – the president will once again address his ‘fellow South Africans’ during the State of the Nation Address, or SONA as it’s known.
What with stage 6 blackouts, Julius Malema’s planned nationwide shutdown, Lindiwe Sisulu’s proposed R1-billion spend on Tottenham Hotspurs, and the crippling cost of living, Ramaphosa will have a lot to answer for. Whether he does, however, remains to be seen.
As we brace ourselves for this year’s SONA, here are a few facts about the most important event on the parliamentary calendar:
• SONA is where the president will outline the government’s key policy objectives and deliverables for the year while noting achievements, challenges and interventions.
• The venue for SONA is usually the National Assembly Chamber. After the chamber caught fire on 2 January 2022, the Executive Authority of Parliament moved SONA to Cape Town City Hall.
• This year’s SONA will include a candle-lighting vigil to honour the late Dr Frene Ginwala, the first speaker of the National Assembly during our democratic era, as well as the signing of a book of condolence.
• In a general election year, which will be next year, we can expect two SONAs to be delivered.
• Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) line the route that the president takes to parliament.
• The Military Guard of Honour participates in the ceremony and the military band plays the national anthem.
• SONA is divided into 3 parts: public participation during the Civil Guard of Honour to welcome the president along the red carpet; the State ceremony, including a 21-gun salute as the SA Air Force flies by; and then the official address by the president.
• SONA brings in representatives from all spheres of government, including local and provincial.
• The 3 arms of the State are represented: the Executive (president, deputy president and ministers); the Judiciary (chief justice and judge presidents); and the Legislature (MPs).
• SONA 2016 was undoubtedly the most watched one to date after multiple disruptions from EFF members of Parliament delayed Jacob Zuma’s address.
• Two weeks after SONA, the minister of finance introduces the budget for the coming year during the budget speech.
You can either tune in to watch it live from 7pm or keep updated via social media using #SONA2023.
Source: www.gov.za
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