Parliament says it is ready to proceed with the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) to be delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday. The annual event will once again be held at Cape Town City Hall.
In a media briefing, the presiding officers of Parliament give an update on the state of readiness and preparations for the SONA.
Speaker of the National Assembly Thoko Didiza says this year’s theme is “Harnessing Parliamentary Diplomacy for the Realisation of Global Solidarity, Equity and Sustainability”.
One of the major features of the event is the gathering of the three arms of the state under one roof – namely – the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judicial.
The Speaker Thoko Didiza elaborates on the official venue for the SONA. “As of Monday the 1st of February 2025, the City Hall has been designated as the parliamentary precinct, in line with section to of the powers and privileges and immunities of parliament and provincial legislatures Act. A two-day debate following SONA will take place on the eleventh and twelfth when the president responds on the 20th and that response will be held at the dome which is the new marquee probably some of you were been able to engage us in the last year when we have the marquee.”
The activities of ceremonial proceedings in Parliament such as the 21-gun salute by the South African Defence will continue as normal according to the Speaker.
This was after some of the political parties asked Didiza to reduce the participation of the military in honour of the soldiers who passed away in the DRC.
“SONA proceedings will retain a full ceremonial for like the 21 gun salute, an aircraft fly past, the singing of the national anthem, a full military band and procession involving provincial Speakers and premiers, the judicial, the deputy president and then the president. We do note that there has been a request that has already been in the public, known by yourselves as well, where there was a request by some parties that we may be relooked as to how those ceremonial proceedings in particular by the defence force need to take into consideration the situation of our fallen soldiers in the DRC.”
Workers are applying the final branding touches to the venue, Cape Town’s historic City Hall, as it readies to host the State of the Nation Address on Thursday. The hall, rich in history and significance, is being meticulously prepared to welcome guests for this key parliamentary… pic.twitter.com/jd8JkCiCrm
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) February 4, 2025
All the former Presidents and former deputy presidents have confirmed their attendance among other dignitaries.
“We also have dignitaries who will be in attendance as it is always with SONA. Our former Presidents of the republic. Our former deputy presidents of the country. Former speakers of the national assembly and former deputy speakers of the national assembly. And former chairpersons of the NCOP. And former deputy chairpersons of the NCOP. And also the executive mayor of the city of Cape Town. The Queen of the Papedi nation will also be in attendance. Member of the European Union and the chairpersons of the delegitimation for South Africa.”
Secretary to Parliament Xolile George says the event will cost Parliament about R6 million, similar to last year’s.
“The sona 2025 we always make a budget provision for six million. Last year we budgeted for R6 million. We have equally budgeted six million for this year for the provision of the SONA. As you would know the delivery is there at the city hall. And thereafter the debates and replies will be in dome. So we are very confident that the provision we have made will be able to cover that adequately for the consideration of costs.”
Parliament says it hopes by next year or 2027 the building of Parliament will be completed.
Chairperson of the NCOP Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane says, “We are hoping that we will be done by 2026, probably it may not be at the beginning of January, maybe by the end of 2026, which will be back to normal as parliament. So, the progress that has been made thus far we are very happy and people are monitoring the progress that has been made by the contractors.”
#SONA2025 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/n4JxU0hDVp
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) February 4, 2025
VIDEO | Parliament’s briefing on the state of readiness for SONA:
