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Parliament abuzz for State of Nation

8 February 2012

Excitement is building around Cape Town's Parliamentary precinct ahead of President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address on Thursday evening.

The National Assembly has been spruced up, the red carpet rolled out and swept, and the military officials involved in the parade and band have pressed their uniforms, cleaned their instruments and are putting in extra practice.

The preparations will culminate in the opening of Parliament and a joint sitting of the National Council of Provinces and the National Assembly for the State of the Nation Address at 7pm on Thursday.

South Africans are encouraged to tune in to SABC radio and television, visit one of the many viewing events held in rural areas, or watch live via streaming on www.gov.za

• More info on the State of the Nation address and how to follow it: www.info.gov.za/events/2012/sona/

Attended by Cabinet members, political parties, businesspeople, ambassadors, commissioners and other heads of state, the opening of Parliament is also a fashionable affair. Last year, the red carpet was lit up by striking traditional attire and the bold colours of the South African flag.

In his speech, the President will chart a common direction for the country for the coming year as well as take stock of the previous year's achievements.

The address is largely informed by the annual Cabinet Lekgotla in January, during which the Cabinet assesses the impact of government programmes and deliberates on the forthcoming programme of action.

The 2012 January Lekgotla also served as a mid-term review, during which the Cabinet assessed progress made on the six job drivers of the government's New Growth Path - infrastructure development, agriculture, mining and beneficiation, manufacturing, the green economy, and tourism.

The 2012 Cabinet Lekgotla also reported that the government had made notable progress across its five key priority areas of education, health, rural development, safety and crime prevention, as well as job creation.

Source: BuaNews