Pretoria – As Parliament makes the final preparations to host the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, a number of roads will be closed near its precinct.
“Due to this ceremony of the state, motorists and pedestrians are advised of parking restrictions and temporary road closures from 9 to 11 February 2016,” Parliament said.
The State of the Nation Address will be delivered by President Jacob Zuma at a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces, on 11 February at 7pm.
The 2016 theme for the State of the Nation Address is: “Following up on our commitments to the people”.
South Africans are encouraged to watch the proceedings as they will be broadcast live from Parliament from 5pm onwards.
During his State of the Nation Address, President Zuma is expected to set out government’s key policy objectives and deliverables for the year ahead. He will also highlight the achievements and challenges experienced over the past year as well as map out the year ahead and beyond.
A number of roads will be closed for rehearsals from 5pm until 11.59pm from 9 February to 10 February.
The roads which will be affected include Harrington Street between Constitution and Roeland Streets; Roeland Street between Plein and Buitenkant Streets; Plein Street between Roeland and Longmarket Streets and Adderley Street: from Strand Street to Wale Streets.
Furthermore, Bureau Street: between Adderley and Parliament Streets, Spin Street: between Corporation and Parliament Streets and Parliament Street from the gates of Parliament to Longmarket Street will be also be closed.
Motorists and pedestrians should also note parking restrictions that apply from 11.59pm on Wednesday until 11.45pm on Thursday.
Parking restrictions will be in the following areas: Klipper Road between Main Road and M3; M3 between Princess Anne Avenue and De Waal Drive; Princess Anne Avenue, Newlands Avenue; Church Square, corner of Spin and Parliament Streets; Roeland Street: between Plein and Brandweer Streets as well as Plein Street: between Roeland and Long Market Streets.
Other areas which parking will be restricted include: Spin Street: between Parliament and Plein Streets; Parliament Street: between Longmarket and Bureau Streets; Hatfield and St John’s Streets: between Roeland and Orange Streets; Adderley Street: between Wale Street and Strand Street; St Mary’s Cathedral Parking Area: between Bouquet and Roeland Streets; Gallery Lane; Queen Victoria Street and Commercial Street.
Parking restrictions will be imposed on Hope Street from Roeland to Vrede Streets, Harrington Street between Roeland and Constitution Streets; Parade Street between Darling and Longmarket Streets and Darling Street between Parade and Buitenkant Streets.
Temporary road closures on Thursday from 6am until 11:45pm will be on Commercial Street: between Plein and Buitenkant Streets becomes bi-directional.
There will also be closures from 9am to 11:45pm on Thursday on Church Square; Roeland Street: between Plein and Buitenkant Streets; Company Gardens as well as Government Avenue from Delville Wood Memorial to Wale Streets.
Other closures include Plein Street from Barrack to Vrede Streets; Gallery Lane; Bouquet Street; St John’s Road: between Plein and Vrede Streets and Hope Street between Roeland and Glynn Streets.
Government Avenue will fully be closed on Thursday from 11am to 11:45pm.
Closure from 4pm to 10pm until Thursday include: Adderley Street: from Strand Street to Wale Street; Wale Street: between Queen Victoria and Adderley Streets; Bureau Street: between Adderley and Parliament Streets; Spin Street and Mostert Street between Corporation and Parliament Streets; Parliament Street from the gates of Parliament to Longmarket Streets; Harrington Street between Constitution and Roeland Streets and Plein Street from Roeland Street to Darling Streets.
Temporary closure from 5:45pm until 7pm on Thursday include Klipper Road, Newlands: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands Avenue; Princess Anne Avenue, Newlands Avenue: from Newlands Avenue to Union Avenue; Newlands Avenue, Newlands: from Dean Street to Princess Anne Avenue; Dean Street, Newlands, westbound: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands Avenue and Anzio Road, Observatory: from Main Road (M4) to De Waal Drive (M3).
Others include: M3, Union Avenue, Rhodes Drive, De Waal Drive, Roeland Street, City-bound carriageway: from Newlands Avenue to city centre; Woolsack Drive, Rondebosch, westbound: between Main Road (M4) and Rhodes Drive (M3); N2, Settlers Way city-bound carriageway: from Main Road (M4) to city centre; Buitenkant Street between Darling Street and Orange Road as well as Roeland Street, between Buitenkant and Brandweer Streets. –SAnews.gov.za
