Date: 11 February 2026, Imbizo Centre, 120 Plein Street Building, Parliament
For a soundbite of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza, on these speaking notes, please click here: https://iono.fm/e/1644885
Good morning members of the media, the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, the Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, the Secretary of Parliament, the Secretary of the National Assembly, and all the other members who are here today with us, here in Cape Town, as well as in Johannesburg.
We convene this briefing to provide an update on Parliament’s state of readiness to host the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), one of the most significant occasions in South Africa’s constitutional calendar.
The State of the Nation Address remains the highest formal expression of executive accountability to Parliament and, through Parliament, to the people of South Africa. Convened as a Joint Sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, SONA formally opens the parliamentary programme for the year and provides the anchor around which oversight, law-making, budget scrutiny and public participation are organised.
It is the moment when the President accounts to the nation on progress made, outlines priorities for the year ahead, and presents government’s programme of action. These commitments then become the benchmarks against which Parliament measures executive performance through committee oversight, debates and legislative processes during the year.
Constitutional Context and National Milestones
This year coincides with the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s Constitution, adopted in 1996. This milestone invites both reflection on our democratic journey and a renewed commitment to the constitutional values of dignity, equality, freedom and accountability that continue to guide our work as a democratic legislature. June 16 this year marks an important calendar day, as well as a significant milestone for the country, where we will be looking back at 50 years of the Soweto uprising, an important event that highlights the contributions made by young people of South Africa to the democratization of our country.
In September 2026, Parliament will further host the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, reinforcing South Africa’s role in global parliamentary diplomacy and international democratic dialogue.
The year will also see South Africans participate in the Local Government Elections, a critical exercise of grassroots democracy that ensures governance closest to communities remains responsive, accountable and effective. Parliament stands ready to play its role in the constitutional processes that safeguard the integrity and credibility of the electoral system.
Hosting Arrangements and Legal Framework
In terms of the Constitution, read together with the Joint Rules of Parliament, the President has convened a Joint Sitting of the two Houses to deliver the 2026 State of the Nation Address.
The State of the Nation Address will be delivered at City Hall, with all Members of Parliament and guests attending physically. Approximately 490 Members of Parliament, including representatives of the South African Local Government Association, will be accommodated in the chamber, with guests seated in the public gallery. In accordance with Section 2 of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, City Hall has been designated a parliamentary precinct for SONA.
Following the Address, Parliament will host a two-day joint debate by Members of both Houses on the 17th and 18th of February. The President’s reply to the debate, on 19th February, will conclude this phase of the SONA programme.
The debates and the President’s reply will be held at the recently refurbished Dome, which has now been formally handed back to Parliament by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. The Dome meets the operational standards required for parliamentary sittings and will serve as an important venue while the permanent parliamentary precinct continues to be restored.
Invited Dignitaries
SONA 2026 will be attended by a broad range of distinguished guests, including former Presidents, former Presiding Officers, members of the Judiciary, Heads of Institutions Supporting Democracy, traditional leadership structures, and representatives of local government and international partners. There will obviously be a Ceremonial Guard that will be present. There will be a procession by the Speakers of the nine provinces, a procession of the judiciary led by the Deputy Chief Justice.
These guests reflect the significance of SONA as both a national constitutional moment and an occasion of international parliamentary interest. Among other dignitaries, invited would also be members of society who work with parliament as well as the government on a number of issues.
Media Accreditation and Broadcast
The media plays an indispensable role in ensuring transparency, accountability and public access to parliamentary proceedings.
For SONA 2026, Parliament received approximately 1 400 media accreditation applications from local and international media. Following a rigorous vetting process, approximately 1 300 bona fide media representatives have been approved to cover the event. Communication with accredited media has already been issued.
Accredited members of the media are encouraged to collect their access passes early to ensure smooth operations on the day.
The State of the Nation Address will be broadcast live on Parliament TV, radio platforms, Parliament’s digital and social media platforms, and live-streamed to ensure wide public access across the country. Parliament TV will serve as the official host broadcaster for SONA 2026. It will provide a clean, high-quality feed to all television, radio, and digital platforms to ensure that every broadcaster has seamless access to the proceedings. This also ensures that the entire nation is able to follow SONA live, across multiple platforms, as an important part of public involvement and access.
Engagement with Informal Traders
We've also, as parliament, been working with the City of Cape Town, engaged the informal traders who usually use the space opposite City Hall. Through ongoing discussions with the Traders' Association and relevant authorities, arrangements have been put in place to balance parliamentary operations with continuity of trading activities, to ensure minimal disruptions while maintaining the security and functionality of the parliamentary precinct.
Conclusion
SONA 2026 is more than a ceremonial occasion. It is a reaffirmation of Parliament’s constitutional mandate to hold the Executive to account, to legislate in the public interest, to facilitate meaningful public participation, and to serve as a platform for national dialogue.
We want to assure South Africans that Parliament is operationally ready, institutionally focused, and firmly committed to ensuring that this State of the Nation Address sets the tone for a year of intensified oversight, responsive law-making, and tangible delivery.
We also want to extend our appreciation to you as members of the media, with your media houses, for always keeping our public abreast and on time on what is happening in Parliament. And through that, you play an important role in ensuring that our citizens are informed at all times about what impacts their lives.
Thank you.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Enquiries: Moloto Mothapo, Parliament Spokesperson
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