It has been confirmed that former presidents Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma will attend Thursday’s State of the Nation Handle (SONA).

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As well as, almost 2 000 company from numerous sectors are anticipated to flock to Cape City to attend the occasion throughout which President Cyril Ramaphosa will take the nation into his confidence.

Ramaphosa will ship the SONA to the nation at 19:00.

These company symbolize civil society, academia, in addition to conventional, non secular and cultural teams. 

“Public participation has all the time been a cornerstone of SONA, and this custom will proceed,” Nationwide Meeting Speaker Thoko Didiza mentioned on Wednesday. 

‘Necessary nationwide points’

Didiza and the Chairperson of the Nationwide Council of Provinces (NCOP), Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, have been addressing a media briefing on Parliament’s preparations for the 2025 SONA.

Didiza described SONA as a big occasion within the nation’s nationwide calendar and essential for shaping nationwide discourse and establishing the tone for the yr forward.

Throughout this occasion, the Head of State will replicate on numerous necessary nationwide points and description the progress made on authorities’s commitments.

“As such, SONA signifies the very best stage of the State’s accountability to the residents by offering updates on authorities’s programmes, developments in laws and insurance policies, profiling targets and a programme of motion for the brand new monetary yr.” 

In line with Didiza, the R6 million occasion, set to happen on the Cape City Metropolis Corridor, is the results of months of cautious preparation and coordination. 

Among the dignitaries anticipated to attend embrace former Presidents and Deputy Presidents of the Republic, former Audio system of the Nationwide Meeting, former Chairpersons of the Nationwide Council of Provinces, former Deputy Audio system of the Nationwide Meeting, the Government Mayor of the Metropolis of Cape City, the Queen of the Bapedi nation, and a member of the European Union who serves because the Chairperson of the delegation for relations with South Africa.

‘Leaders of tomorrow’

To advertise civic consciousness and public engagement, Didiza introduced that SONA will embrace a Junior Guard of Honour. 

This group will include 100 learners from 4 faculties within the Western Cape, chosen in partnership with the Western Cape Division of Schooling.

“The involvement of younger learners is essential in educating and exposing them to the workings, roles, and features of state establishments, serving to to form them because the leaders of tomorrow,” Didiza mentioned.

The occasion can even embrace a efficiency by the Wynberg Ladies’ Excessive College band alongside the official Parliament Choir. 

Thursday’s SONA will probably be adopted by a two-day debate, with a reply from the President hosted on the Dome within the Nieuwmeester Parking Web site.

The SONA proceedings will observe a full ceremonial format. This may embrace a 21-gun salute, an plane fly-past, a ceremonial guard, the singing of the nationwide anthem, a full army band, and processions that includes provincial Audio system, Premiers, the judiciary, the Deputy President, and the President.

Didiza clarified the distinction between the Opening of Parliament Handle (OPA) that occurred final yr, marking the start of the seventh administration.

“OPA happens as soon as each 5 years, after normal elections, to announce medium and long-term plans. SONA is an annual handle that specifies short-term priorities and offers insights on the progress of the long-term targets.”

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