All roads lead to Sona
Flurry of activity as Parliament prepares for Ramaphosa’s second State of Nation Address
PARLIAMENT is a hive of activity this week as preparations get under way for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s second State of the Nation Address (Sona) expected tomorrow evening.
Road closures have been announced and were scheduled to come into effect from today.
“To accommodate the Sona and the opening of Parliament, the national government together with the SAPS has requested that extended road closures be effected in the City,” said Cape Town’s traffic services spokesperson, Maxine Bezuidenhout.
Roads within the CBD will be closed from 6am to midnight to accommodate the Sona.
The closures would affect the flow of traffic in and around the City Bowl, Newlands, on the M3 and on citybound lanes.
“Road users are urged to plan their routes accordingly,” Bezuidenhout added.
Posters and banners have been put up and media tents have been erected around the precinct.
There was a strong police presence in the area yesterday.
Ramaphosa went on a walkabout in the parliamentary precinct to observe the preparations for his important address.
The theme of this year’s Sona is “Following Up on Our Commitments to the People: Making your future work better.”
This week marks one of the most important events in the country’s political calendar.
The president faces the added pressure of presenting his administration’s vision for the nation just a few months before the national elections.
Ramaphosa is expected to announce the date on which the country will be heading to the polls during his address.
It is also anticipated that he will reveal details on Eskom’s future.