Contract workers are seen breaking down the Dome meant for guests attending SONA tonight. Picture Henk Kruger
Plans were quickly changed at the last minute today when gale force winds prevented a marquee for State of the Nation guests from going up in Cape Town today.
Cape Town is experiencing a strong South Easter and the marquee meant for guests for guests was taken down outside the City Hall and the venue was moved to the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
The Cape Town City Hall is once again the venue for SONA, which will include a 21-gun salute, aircraft exhibition, a ceremonial guard, the step guard salute, the singing of the national anthem, a full military band, and processions involving provincial Speakers, Premiers, the judiciary, the Deputy President and the President.
International event planner Francois van Tonder remembers his days of events in Cape Town and how you could never predict the weather.
“You learnt quickly never to trust Cape Town’s weather but to trust your own instincts and to always have a back up plan or two up your sleeve.”
"You can empathise with today’s event planners - knowing all too well how Cape Town has four seasons in one day even in February.“
The event planner says gale force winds are the worst of all weather forces in the country because "you can’t make use of tempary infrastructure as it becomes a health and safety issue“.
Regardless of the weather, Sona is going full steam ahead.
Yesterday the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, and the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, briefed media on Parliament’s state of readiness to host SONA, the first to be hosted by the 7th Parliament.
After months of careful planning, Didiza assured the gathered media representatives and the nation “that it’s all systems go for SONA 2025”.
Parliament is ready, she assured her listeners, “to host the event in a fitting manner, one that reflects the evening’s role in setting the political tone for the year ahead and shaping national discourse”.
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