Parliament - Parliament hopes its theme for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) next month will capture the expectations that South Africans have of government as a whole in meeting the many demands of service delivery.
The theme "Parliament entrenching people-centred democracy in achieving development goals" was announced on Thursday by
Speaker of the National Assembly, Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde, Acting Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces Peggy Hollander and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, as Presiding Officers.
"What this [theme] means is that Parliament's function of monitoring and evaluation over the executive sits at the centre of our activities. We take our oversight functions very seriously. For us this means that we have to be the enablers of public participation."
Traditionally the State of the Nation Address is an annual event, where the President delivers his speech outlining governments Programme of Action for the year. However, this year, the address comes as the current President, Kgalema Motlanthe's tenure ends.
Parliament said this year, the SONA, to be delivered on 6 February, would only cover the tenure of the entire 3rd 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 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 gun salute from the military.
"Lining the red carpet will be eminent South Africans, from all nine provinces, a Civil Guard of Honour, drawn from civil society development organisations, and a Junior Guard of Honour, drawn from schools in the Western Cape, Free State, Gauteng and Mpumalanga," said the statement.
The State of the Nation Address will take place from 11am until noon when the House will be adjourned.
Members of Parliament and special guests will then be invited to a luncheon.
During his speech, the President addresses the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary arms of the state.
The address will be broadcast live on big public screens in all nine provinces. Members of Parliament will also be lined up to be interviewed by the media on the day.
