Everything is set for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2024 tomorrow at the Cape Town City Hall. The Speaker of the National Assembly has given the venue a heads up for the third time after Parliament was burnt down in January 2022, allegedly by Zandile Mafe.

Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula addressed the media yesterday on the preparations to host the 2024 SONA. SONA is a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, and is called by the President Cyril Ramaphosa in terms of Section 42(5) of the Constitution. It brings together the three arms of the state under one roof. Speaking at the briefing, Mapisa-Nqakula said that the theme for this year called "Following up on our commitments and making your future work better" is aligned with that of the sixth Parliament administration. She added that this SONA holds significant importance as it is the last one of the current five-year Parliament term. "Concurrently as we prepare for this SONA, we are also engaged in extensive preparations for both the opening of the 7th Parliament and for welcoming the new generation of Members of Parliament," she said.

According to Mapisa-Nqakula, the activities include a 21-gun salute, an aircraft fly pass, a ceremonial guard, step guard salute, the singing of the national anthem, a full military band and ceremonial processions involving provincial speakers, premiers, the judiciary, the deputy president and the president. "The president will take a salute on the platform in front of the Madiba statue located on the City Hall balcony synchronised with the 21-gun salute," she said. Approximately 490 members of Parliament and representatives of the South African local government association will be seated in the chamber. Several dignitaries have been invited to attend the ceremony and these include former presidents Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma and former speakers Baleka Mbete and Max Sisulu, former deputy presidents Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and David Mabuza. The 2024 SONA is scheduled to start at 7pm and 24-year-old praise singer Senziwe Maleba has been tasked to usher the president into the house with praise.