Parliament - The City of Cape Town has warned motorists to steer clear of certain roads in the city centre due to road closures between 09:00 and 14:00 on Friday, when Parliament opens.
The following roads will be closed:
09:30 to 11:00
* Klipper Road, Newlands: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands Avenue
* Princess Anne Avenue, Newlands: from Newlands Avenue to Union Avenue
* Newlands Avenue, Newlands: from Dean Street to Princess Anne Avenue
* Dean Street, Newlands, westbound: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands Avenue
* M3, Union Avenue, Rhodes Drive, De Waal Drive, City-bound carriageway: from Newlands Avenue to city centre
* Woolsack Drive, Rondebosch, westbound: between Main Road (M4) and Rhodes Drive (M3)
* N2, Settlers Way City-bound carriageway: from Main Road (M4) to city centre
* Eastern Boulevard (M3) city-bound: from Hospital Bend to Table Bay Boulevard (including all on-ramps)
09:00 to 12:30
* Hertzog Boulevard: from Civic Road to Heerengracht
* Eastern Boulevard: Strand Street off-ramp
* Strand Street: from Russell Street to Adderley Street
* Adderley Street: from Heerengracht to Wale Street
* Heerengracht: between Coen Steytler and Hans Strijdom Avenues
* Wale Street: between Queen Victoria and Adderley Streets
* Bureau Street: between Adderley and Parliament Streets
* Spin Street: between Corporation and Parliament Streets
* Commercial Street: between Plein and Buitenkant Streets
09:00 to 14:00
* Plein Street: between Roeland and Spin Streets
* Roeland Street: between Plein and Buitenkant Streets
* St John's Road: between Plein and Vrede Street
* Gallery Lane
The city confirmed that there will be parking restrictions from midnight on Thursday in Cape Town's Central Business District (CBD).
President Kgalema Motlanthe's State of the Nation Address (SONA) to a joint sitting of Parliament will take place under the theme "Parliament entrenching people-centred democracy in achieving development goals".
Traditionally the State of the Nation Address is an annual event, where the President delivers his speech outlining governments Programme of Action (POA) for the year. However, this year, the address comes as the current President, Kgalema Motlanthe's tenure ends.
Parliament said this year, the SONA, would only cover the tenure of the entire third Parliament from 2004 to 2009.
In true tradition, the Presiding Officers have promised a day rich with ceremonial splendour.
On arrival, President Motlanthe will be received by the Presiding Officers at Slave Lodge. He will then be accompanied by the Presiding Officers as they walk the red carpet, meeting people and watching cultural performances.
At the steps of the National Assembly, President Motlanthe will take the 21-gun salute from the military.
The president's address is scheduled to begin at 11:00 on Friday and despite setting out government's POA for the year ahead, Mr Motlanthe will also review the last five years of governance.
The address will be broadcast live on big public screens in all nine provinces, and parliamentary members will also be lined up to be interviewed on the day.
On Sunday President Motlanthe, as is tradition, is scheduled to attend the 10:00 church service at Groote Kerk.
