Parliament's presiding officers satisfied with SONA2024 preparations

It's all systems go, says Parliament, for this year's State of the Nation Address (SONA)

Its presiding officers, led by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Amos Masondo, had a walkabout on Wednesday, to gauge the infrastructural readiness and other preparations at the Cape Town City Hall. The City Hall, will for the third time, host the SONA, after a fire ripped through parts of the Parliament building in January 2022.

The Cape Town City Hall was declared a Parliamentary precinct from 1 February, until the Finance Minister delivered the Budget Speech. All rules that apply to a Parliamentary precinct then became effective.

PHOTO: X - @ParliamentofRSA

This will be the last SONA hosted by the Sixth Parliament, as it is an election year.

“This [Wednesday] afternoon we met the organising team and received briefings on the final arrangements for SONA 2024. We also had an inspection in loco to establish the state of readiness to host the State of the Nation Address that President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to deliver tomorrow evening. We are absolutely happy with all the work and demonstrated the meticulous planning that went into this major event,’’ said the Presiding officers in a statement.

''The Presiding Officers again stressed that their commitment to ensuring a successful SONA is deeply rooted in the desire to uphold the dignity of this significant national event. This will be the last SONA hosted by the sixth Parliament,'' read the statement.

Done by: Mitchum George