By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Presiding Officers of Parliament, led by National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza and National Council of Provinces Chairperson, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, addressed the media on the state of readiness to host the 2024 Opening of Parliament Address (OPA).
President Cyril Ramaphosa has convened a Joint Sitting of the two Houses of Parliament on Thursday, 18 July, to deliver the Opening of Parliament Address.
The Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) takes place once every five years, after the Provincial and National Elections, to outline the new administration’s plans while also marking the official opening of the new five-year term of Parliament.
The new administration is made up of several political parties that formed a Government of National Unity founded on the respect for the Constitution, the Bill of Rights in its entirety, a united South Africa, and the rule of law.
In a media briefing in Cape Town on Wednesday, parliament’s presiding officer and chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Mtshweni-Tsipane confirmed that there would no gala dinner at the opening of parliament because of financial constraints.
“Due to financial constraints, unfortunately we are unable to hold a gala dinner, “Mtshweni-Tsipane said.
Mtshweni-Tsipane said the guest list to this years opening of parliament included former presidents Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma.
There was no clarity if Zuma had accepted the invitation. This would be the first time Zuma attends the opening of parliament as an opposition leader.
Secretary to parliament, Xolile George, told the media that R8m was budgeted for the previous opening of parliament.
The reason we budget in this range is because we’re considering cost factors for the last sitting in February. We budgeted R8.4m, but the actual expenditure may be less or slightly more. It depends on the reconciliation we will do,” he said.
At least 490 members of parliament are expected at the event. It will include processions by the speakers of legislatures, the judiciary, premiers and the deputy president.
Parliament Speaker Didiza said the opening of parliament will comprise of all the traditional aspects of the start of a new parliamentary term. This includes military displays and a praise song at the beginning of the session.
“The official proceeding begins when the president of the republic arrives. At this moment, the military choir will perform the national anthem. It will coincide with the 21-gun salute as well as the aircraft fly-over and salute, “Didiza said.
“The processions underscore the unity and co-operation between different levels and branches of government,” she said.
Meanwhile South African Weather Service (SAWS) forecaster, Samkelisiwe Thwala, said on Wednesday that isolated scattered showers and rain with a portion of a cold front are expected in the Western Cape, with South Western parts expecting 80% chance of rain and showers on Thursday.
“We also have three weather alerts that are associated with cold fronts. [There is a] Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive rain, leading to localised flooding of roads, which is expected over the Cape Winelands, City of Cape Town, parts of the West Coast, and Theewaterskloof Municipalities,” Thwala said.
Thwala warned of a further cold front approaching on Friday.
“It is going to be two-days of rainy and cold weather. Strong winds and damaging waves are also predicted for the coastal areas up to Plettenberg Bay on the southeast coast,” Thwala said.
The Opening of Parliament Address also coincides with the United Nations-declared Nelson Mandela International Day, which calls on people around the world to take action to help change the world for the better, and by doing so, build a global movement for good.