Mar 2013

Seen at the State of the Nation Address 2013

State of the Nation Address 2013

A DAY OF COLOUR AND CELEBRATION: a variety of the country’s culture and tradition on show at the event.

The State of the Nation Address (SoNA) is an important occasion when the President addresses the nation in his capacity as Head of State at the opening of Parliament.

It is a colourful and glamourous event that sees members of provincial legislatures, the Diplomatic Corps, eminent South Africans, members of the Judiciary and Parliament, among others, gathering in Cape Town to celebrate the start of a new political year. The event starts with guests proceeding up the red carpet to the National Assembly at Parliament, followed by a 21-gun salute in honour of the President. The President is then led into the National Assembly to address the nation.

In the week following the address, political parties are given an opportunity to debate the President’s Address in Parliament while he is given an opportunity to respond to this debate.

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