to a Joint Sitting of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

Friday, 06 February 2009

What is the State of the Nation Address?The State of the Nation Address is the annual

occasionwhen the President of the Republic of South Africaaddresses Parliament and the Nation.

What is covered by the address?

• Achievements of the past year• Challenges of the past year• Challenges which lie ahead• Government’s programme for the coming year

When is the State of the Nation Address• The Address occurs annually on the first (or

second) Friday during the month of February.• During an Elections Year, two State of the Nation

Addresses are delivered:

• One, preceding the final session of the outgoing Parliament, and

• The other, after the elections when the new President and Parliament are established.

Where does the Address take place?

• This Address takes place at Parliament to a Joint Sitting

• of Parliament’s two houses, viz.:

• The National Assembly, and• The National Council of Provinces.

• Members of the Public are invited to attend the Address as guests of the Presiding Officers

• Members of the public, representing each of the Provinces, are invited to participate in the Civil Guard of Honour

• Learners are invited to participate in the Junior Guard of Honour

The Guards of Honour welcome the President along the Red Carpet before the Address.

How does the public participate in The State of the Nation Address?

What happens after The State of the Nation Address?• The Address by the President is debated by the two

Houses of Parliament. • The Political Parties have an opportunity to give their

opinions and raise questions on the issues addressed by the President’s Speech.

• The President in turn is provided an opportunity to respond to these opinions and questions arising from the debates.

Get the feeling………Previous State of the Nation Address

Previous State of the Nation Address

Get the feeling…

Feel the excitement…. Previous State of the Nation Address

Hear the buzz… Previous State of the Nation Address

Be part of it… Previous State of the Nation Address

Be part of it…. Previous State of the Nation Address

Capture the moment

Previous State of the Nation Address

Touch our people… Previous State of the Nation Address

Honour our achievers… Previous State of Nation Address

Join Us… Previous State of the Nation Address

Celebrate our Democracy… Previous State of the Nation Address

Celebrate our Ceremonies… Previous State of the Nation Address

Previous State of the Nation Address

Address the Nation… Previous State of the Nation Address

Join the Sitting… Previous State of Nation Address

Capture the moment… Previous State of the Nation Address

Join the Celebration… Previous State of Nation Address

See diverse cultures… Previous State of the Nation Address

Celebrate diverse cultures… Pervious State of the Nation Address

DO YOU KNOW…?

…of course you do!

that the President calls a joint sitting of Parliament at the beginning of each year to report on achievements during the past year and the programme for the coming year?

Do you also know… that this is referred to as the State of the Nation Address?

Do you know…

that the State of the Nation Address is one of the few occasions where all three arms of State (Parliament, Executive and Judiciary) participate?

Do you know…

that the Guards of Honour have three public components?

* Eminent persons representing each of the nine provinces* Civil Guard of Honour drawn from the general public* Junior Guard of Honour consisting of learners from various schools

Do you know…

that a “Joint Sitting” is a single sitting of both Houses of Parliament, namely the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.

Do you know…

that Political Parties have an opportunity to comment on and debate the Address in the Houses during the week following the address?

Do you know…

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