President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the 2025 State of the Nation Address in Cape Town’s City Hall on Thursday night.
His address is expected to start at 7pm.
SONA2025 – Advocate Shameemah Salie, a Member of Parliament from the the Al Jamaah Party, says she expects President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the bread and butter issues including unemployment, crime and ensuring that almost 2,000 unemployed doctors find work to help the country.
The MP has called for the president to be transparent, to provide clear timelines and to ensure that deadlines be met.
Video: Ian Landsberg/Independent Media
Traffic disruptions in Cape Town’s city centre
Major traffic disruptions are set to hit Cape Town’s city centre as Parliament implements extensive security measures.
Parliament announced a series of road closures and parking restrictions in and around the Cape Town City Hall as it prepares for the SONA scheduled for Thursday, February 6 at 7pm.
These closures are necessitated by the significant security and logistical measures associated with hosting the annual address, which is a cornerstone of South Africa’s political calendar.
A pedestrian gate will be established at the corner of Longmarket and Corporation Streets to facilitate controlled entry.
Read more on the full road closures, here.
WATCH SONA 2025 LIVE:
Excitement builds as Parliament readies for the 2025 SONA
Meanwhile, it remains unclear if former president Jacob Zuma will attend the SONA 2025 after conflicting remarks from high profile Umkhonto Wesizwe Party Members of Parliament (MPs) on Thursday.
After years of snubbing invites to the SONA, it remains unclear if Zuma will attend the alongside over 50 MK Party MPs this evening.
Read the full story here.
Excitement builds as Parliament readies for the 2025 SONA
Speaker of the National Assembly Thoko Didiza said the SONA was a crucial event on the national calendar that required months of meticulous planning.
The 2025 Sona will be hosted under the theme of ‘Harnessing Parliamentary Diplomacy for Realisation of Global Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability’.
