President Nelson Mandela’s steps to freedom on 11 February 1990 changed the face of South Africa forever. That momentous day will be remembered when Parliament opens on the evening of Thursday 11 February 2010. President Jacob Zuma chose to celebrate the occasion by giving his second State of the Nation Address to a joint sitting of the fourth Parliament at seven o’clock that evening.

 

Parliament said in a statement that it would not differ much from the annual “red carpet affair.” Visitors will once more share in this extraordinary ceremony.  Apart from hundreds of spectators who will be watching the Presidential procession, ordinary citizens will also get to take part in the proceedings on television, and follow it on radio.

 

Parliament’s Public Relations Manager, Ms Lydia Radebe says “this particular State of the Nation Address is a celebration of Mandela’s legacy, which is related to what Parliament stands for: principles such as forgiveness, humility, good governance, tolerance, equality and a collective effort to ease the burden of poverty and social ills.”

 

The opening is customarily preceded by a procession of the country’s nine Premiers, the Speakers of Legislatures, and the Judge Presidents, followed by the Deputy President and the President. The Presidential procession is marked by a celebratory atmosphere.

 

On the Parliament Street leg of the Presidential procession, members of the public get to participate.

 

More than 200 learners from schools from all nine provinces form a Junior Guard of Honour on either side of the red carpet.

 

A further 100 citizens representing various sectors of the community form a Civil Guard of Honour. They have all been recruited from community and non-governmental organizations who are involved in community development.

 

The President will also pass by a group of eminent persons, who represent their nine Provinces and a national representative nominated by Parliament’s Presiding Officers. As part of the special celebration, members of the Madiba Reception Committee have been as eminent persons. Provincial Legislatures have been requested to nominate one person each, who will best represent the Province at the State of the Nation Address.

 

“The 2010 eminent persons are drawn from amongst individuals who have made outstanding contributions to our democracy by fighting for the liberation of this country, the same way as Mr Mandela did”, said Ms Radebe.

 

More than 400 members of the public have been invited to the public gallery to hear the President deliver his address. This includes members of civil society organizations such as union federations, business and trade, NGOs and CBOs, academic and research organizations as well as religious bodies.

 

The Parliamentary Communication Services has again run a competition to give one young person from each of the nine provinces an opportunity to win a seat to the opening. Seats have also been set aside for the top grade 12 learners and nine best-performing teachers from all the provinces. The National Department of Education has made the relevant information available to Parliament.

 

Completing the public’s involvement are various performers, including an imbongi (praise singer) extolling the Presidential party as it makes its way towards the National Assembly Chamber, where the President’s address will take place.

 

Parliament’s Public Education Office is arranging a programme for the Guards of Honour, aimed at providing information about Parliament and the SONA itself. This includes educational material and a tour of Parliament.

 

The head of communications in Parliament, Mr Luzuko Jacobs, said “we received a request from the Presidency that the opening be on Thursday evening and we have acceded to the request." Parliament traditionally opens on a Friday morning, with the president's speech to a joint sitting of the houses of the legislature starting at 11:00.

 

Mr Jacobs said the address would be preceded by the usual military parade and red-carpet reception of Members of Parliament. The 21-gun salute by the SANDF, national anthem by the Navy Band and flypast by SAAF jets against the early evening sky could be particularly spectacular.

President Zuma's spokesperson Mr Vincent Magwenya said the unprecedented change was made to allow more South Africans the opportunity to follow the president's message on television. "The president changed the time to 19:00 to afford all South Africans, especially the workers, students and schoolchildren an opportunity to watch the proceedings in their homes after hours.”