State of the Nation Address 2020

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the State of the Nation Address on 13 February 2020 at 7pm before a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament. The President took the nation into his confidence on the way forward, set the tone on critical matters and reported back to South Africans on the progress since his last address in June 2019.

The address built on the success of the recent free and fair 2019 General Elections, which served to renew and strengthen our democracy. He will also use the opportunity to chart the course for the implementation of the electoral mandate as reflected in the 2019–2024 Medium Term Strategic Framework.

Since it is a Joint Sitting of both Houses, the Speaker of the NA and the Chairperson of the NCOP host the event. All the three (3) Arms of the State, namely; the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary attend this event. It is one of the rare moments whereby all three Arms of the State meet in one place. As one of the important ceremonies of the state, it is broadcasted live on national television so that the general population is afforded the chance to see it.

The State of the Nation Address was broadcast live on: South African Government Facebook and South African Government Twitter account, as well as on DStv Channel 408, SABC TV, eNCA, SABC radio stations and South African Government YouTube Channel.

FAST FACTS

The State of the Nation Address is divided into three parts. The first is the important public participation role in the ceremony when the Civil Guard of Honour welcomes the President and his guests as they walk along the red carpet. This is followed by a state ceremonial, which includes a 21-gun salute and the South African Air Force flypast and finally the official address by the President.
Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) line the route that the President takes to Parliament.
The Military Guard of Honour participates in the ceremony and the military band plays South Africa’s national anthem.
In a general election year, two State of the Nation Addresses are delivered.
The State of the Nation Address is one of the rare occasions where the three arms of State, namely the Executive represented by the President, Deputy President and Ministers; the Judiciary, represented by the country’s Chief Justice and the Judge Presidents; and the Legislature, represented by the Members of Parliament gather in one place.
The provincial and local spheres of government are also represented.