In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2023 at Cape Town City Hall, President Cyril Ramaphosa will present the government’s action plan, and all eyes will be on him.
From February 1 until February 23, 2023, Cape Town City Hall was designated a Parliamentary precinct, and all regulations that pertain to one went into effect.
Along with the State of the Nation Address, the Hall will hold the two-day joint session of the Houses of Parliament debate on the President’s address, the President’s response to the debate, and the Minister of Finance’s Budget Speech on February 22.
The President of South Africa addresses the National Assembly (NA) and National Council of Provinces jointly every year in a speech known as SONA (NCOP).
The three branches of government—executive, judicial, and legislative—come together on this day to carry out their constitutional duties in front of the entire country.
The sixth administration’s proposals to handle the power situation will be eagerly anticipated by South Africans as load shedding continues in various phases throughout the country.
President Ramaphosa will discuss the political, social, and economic climate in South Africa today, as well as the government’s plans and goals for 2023 when he addresses the country at 7 o’clock.
SONA traditions and ceremony
The simultaneous sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, which is the most awaited event on the political and parliamentary calendar, is currently well underway.
The SONA proceedings this year will be held in the same format as last year’s, including participation from regular people.
All participants, including Members of Parliament and invited guests, will be present in the Chamber and the public gallery at the SONA in 2023.
A total of 490 members of parliament, including 10 Salga MPs, will be seated on the floor of the legislature, while 263 visitors, including representatives of various societal groups, will be seated in the public gallery of the building.
Around 16.30, the Parliamentary precinct gets underway. Judges, provincial legislature speakers, premiers, and ambassadors will all show up for the occasion.
The Flame Guard, the 21-gun salute, an aircraft flyover, the lining of the route, the Ceremonial Guard, the Salute of the Step Guard, the singing of the National Anthem, the full Military Band, and the ceremonial processions of the Provincial Speakers, Premiers, the Judiciary, the Deputy President, and the President are just a few of the events that take place and are observed during the full ceremony.
President Ramaphosa will salute at a platform set up in front of the uTata Madiba statue on the City Hall balcony as soon as he enters the building.
He will hear the South African National Defence Force Military Band sing the national anthem here in time with the 21-gun salute and the flypast.
The 21-gun salute, which is fired in honor of the Head of State, the national flag, the Head of State of a foreign country, a current member of the royal family, and a previous Head of State, has come to be recognized as the standard for the highest honor that a nation can bestow.
Msawenkosi Duma from KwaZulu-Natal, an isiZulu praise singer, will then lead the President into the Chamber.
Since its introduction in 1994,imbongi has played a significant part in the SONA program. It continues to be essential to the celebration of the nation’s cultural variety and social cohesiveness.
Former President Thabo Mbeki, former Speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya, the 15 Judges of the Constitutional Court, and the President of the Pan African Parliament, Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira, are among the dignitaries who have confirmed their attendance at the SONA.
Where to watch
South Africans who cannot attend the event in person can follow the proceedings live on a variety of media channels, including mainstream media and Parliament’s own multimedia and television platforms.
All television stations that will broadcast from the precinct will receive a broadcast feed from the Parliamentary Broadcast and Audio Visual Unit.
There will be an audio feed available for all radio stations through the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).
Additionally, the speech will be live-streamed on the parliamentary website, parliamentary television on DSTV channel 408, and the parliamentary YouTube page.
The event will be covered by more than 650 members of the media.
