On Friday, January 7, Parliament revealed that the 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) is set to be hosted at the Cape Town City Hall where the late former president, Nelson Mandela addressed the nation for the very first time after he was released from prison in 1990 with President Cyril Ramaphosa by his side.
The location change comes after the blaze which occurred at Parliament on Sunday, January 2, however, the set date, February 10 remains in place.
The fires, which firefighters battled for over 70 hours, severely damaged the NA building, including the NA chamber, where the official sittings of the NA and Joint Sittings of both Houses of Parliament are usually held, in terms of both the NA and Joint Rules of Parliament. The extensive damage has necessitated the institution to find an alternative venue off-site to host this important event in the parliamentary calendar and the country.
The NA Chamber was a building with great historical significance and rich heritage, and represented the evolution of our Parliament from apartheid to democracy.
It was there that Members of Parliament met to pass laws, take binding decisions, hear important announcements, and host the Joint Sittings of the two Houses of Parliament, the NA and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
“The extensive damage has necessitated the institution to find an alternative venue off-site to host this important event in the parliamentary calendar and the country,” parliament said in a statement.
The Presiding Officers are grateful to the Western Cape Provincial Government and the City of Cape Town for coming forward with offers for the use of their venues for the business of Parliament. They have offered the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the City Council Chambers and the City Hall.
“We have ensured that this decision to host the SONA outside the Chamber of the NA, is taken in compliance with the Joint Rules of Parliament that determine where a Joint Sitting may be held”, Parliament said in their statement.
The President calls this Joint Sitting of the NA and the NCOP annually to deliver SONA in terms of section 42(5) of the Constitution, read with Joint Rule 7 of the Joint Rules of Parliament.
Since it is a Joint Sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, the Speaker of the NA and the Chairperson of the NCOP host the event, which is attended by the three arms of the state.
The Joint Rules also prescribe, amongst others, the venue for the Joint Sitting of Parliament.
Joint Rule 8 states that “Joint sittings are held in the Chamber of the Assembly”. The Rules also adequately provide for the procedures for the sitting and the conduct of Members of Parliament.
Rule 2 of the Joint Rules provide for Unforeseen Matters. In terms of Rule 2(1), the Speaker and the Chairperson, acting jointly, may give a ruling or make a rule in respect of any matter for which the Joint Rules do not provide.
In this regard, a joint rule made by the Speaker and the Chairperson will allow SONA to be held in a venue other than the Chamber of the Assembly. The rule will remain in force until a decision of the Rules Committee is made on such a rule.
Section 2 of the Powers, Privileges, and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act defines the precincts of Parliament as any area of land and every building or part of a building under Parliament’s control, including “the chambers in which the proceedings of the Houses are conducted and the galleries and lobbies of the chambers”; and include all other parts of the buildings and committee rooms and other meeting places used for Parliament’s business and in connection with the proceedings of Parliament, while so used.
Section 2 (2) provides that “where a House or committee convenes beyond the seat of Parliament, this Act applies as if the premises where the House or committee is sitting were within the precincts of Parliament”.
Therefore, section 2 of the Act makes allowances for any business of Parliament to be conducted elsewhere. Section 3 of the Act reinforces that the precinct’s control vests with the Speaker and the Chairperson, irrespective of the venue.
The Presiding Officers are looking forward to a successful SONA.
“As South Africans, we are resilient people, we have overcome many difficulties in the past. Therefore, we will rise from these ashes and rebuild, restore, renew and march forward in our continuous endeavour to build a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist, united and prosperous society we all aspire”, Parliament concluded in their statement.
Also read:
Alleged confession from homeless parliament arsonist – evidence scarce, suspicion high
Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery