South Africa prepares for 2016 SONA

2 February 2016

"Preparations are well afoot. At this point in time we are doing small final touches," secretary to Parliament Gengezi Mgidlana said about the State of Nation address (SONA) taking place on 11 February at 7pm in Cape Town.

President Jacob Zuma will deliver his speech to a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

Mgidlana says SONA is an important item on the calendar of the country, part and parcel of the legislative process #SONA
� SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) February 1, 2016

"We have also worked out the specific logistics to ensure that Parliament is ready to receive guests and to host," said Mgidlana.

National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete said preparations for the event started in 2015. "This is an annual event and our preparations started last year already around September as this is the single most important activity of the country."

The SONA outlines the government's programme of action for the year ahead as well as gives the President a platform to provide an assessment of the country's current political and socio-economic state.

Mgidlana says SONA is an important item on the calendar of the country, part and parcel of the legislative process #SONA
� SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) February 1, 2016