Preparing for the Night

Participate in Parliament » News Details

One of the scenarios for which the team planning the State of the Nation Address on 13 February must prepare is the possibility of rain, in which case the route has to be altered at short notice and the attendant guards of honour must quickly be repositioned. Although the forecast of the weather bureau at this stage is for "hot" weather, every contingency is being covered to allow the pomp and ceremony before the President begins his address to the two Houses of Parliament and guests at seven o clock that evening, to go off with as few hitches as possible.   

If the weather is good, the President alights at the Slave Lodge immediately north of the entrance to the parliamentary grounds. With his entourage, the plan is for President Zuma to walk in state up the red carpet to the main steps of the new National Assembly. In this case the guards of honour line the red carpet will, as per their preparation, be able to give a smart salute as he passes. 

If it rains, the presidential motorcade will drive up the entrance of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) building, and the President will enter the building complex using the same internal route that the Premiers of the Provinces used earlier in the evening to access the new National Assembly. This severely curtails the possibility of a full display of the prepared guards of honour, but it must still take exactly the same amount of time so that President Zuma can begin his address to outline the State of the Nation, and open the final session of the fourth Parliament, on time.   

Guests have to be seated well beforehand, giving everyone time to look their best and settle in.

Whatever happens on the night, the possibility of a rain scenario might still transpire in June, with a second State of the Nation looming after this year's national elections.

Ossie Gibson