Parliament announced on Friday that this year’s State of the Nation Address (2022 SONA) will now be held at the Cape Town City Hall on 10 February 2022.
UPDATE: This article has been updated with road closure information. See below.
2022 SONA latest news: Update on Parliament fire
According to the statement, the Presiding Officers met this morning to consider various reports on options available for business continuity of Parliament’s work, including the hosting of the SONA.
This comes after a fire that started on Sunday engulfed Parliament and was contained after two days.
“Following a sad and devastating week in which fires that started on Sunday and destroyed Parliament’s buildings, including the National Assembly and sections of the Old Assembly Chamber, we made a solemn undertaking that, despite the devastation of the disaster, we will not allow a situation where Parliament’s work is derailed or disrupted in any manner,” the statement read.
The fires, which the firefighters battled for over 70 hours, severely damaged the National Assembly building, including the National Assembly Chamber, where the official sittings of both Houses of Parliament are usually held.
“The extensive damage has necessitated the institution to find an alternative venue off-site to host this important event in the parliamentary calendar and the country.”
Parliament described the National Assembly Chamber as a building with great historical significance and rich heritage and representation of evolution from apartheid to democracy.
“It was there that Members of Parliament met to pass laws, take binding decisions, hear important announcements and host the Joint Sittings of the two Houses of Parliament.”
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The Presiding Officers said they were grateful to the Western Cape Provincial Government and the City of Cape Town, which offered the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the City Council Chambers and the City Hall as alternative venues.
“After a great deal of consideration and following thorough onsite inspections of alternative places, we are pleased to announce that the 2022 SONA will be held at the Cape Town City Hall.
“It is also a befitting place considering its historical significance, which is embedded in the minds and hearts of South Africans.”
The Presiding Officers said it is where Nelson Mandela addressed the nation after his release from prison on 11 February 1990.
“Again, on 9 May 1994, the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu introduced Tata Mandela to thousands of jubilant South Africans in the same balcony after his election in the National Assembly as the first democratic President.”
The officials said they were looking forward to a successful SONA.
“As South Africans, we are resilient people, we have overcome many difficulties in the past. Therefore, we will rise from these ashes and rebuild, restore, renew and march forward in our continuous endeavour to build a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist, united and prosperous society we all aspire.”
2022 SONA: Cape Town road closures
The following roads will be closed in the days leading up to 2022 SONA:
Closed between 05:00 and 23:59 from 1 February to 16 February 2022.
- Corporation Street between Darling and Longmarket Street
- Curbside fencing around the perimeter of the Cape Town City Hall
- Darling Street
- Corporation Street
- Parade Street
- Longmarket Street
Closed between 15:00 and 23:59 from 7 – 9 February 2022 for 2022 SONA rehearsals.
- Darling street between Plein Street and Buitenkant Street (Traffic Control)
- Darling street between Buitenkant and Castle of Good Hope (Traffic Control)
- Parade Street between Caledon Street and Darling Street (Traffic Hall)
Closed between 23:59 and 23:45 from 9 – 10 February 2022 (parking restrictions to remain in place on 14, 15 and 16 February 2022)
- Parade, Cape Town
- Roeland Street: outgoing lane between Plein Street and 37 Plein Street (Building next to Nieuwmeester parking)
- Buitenkant St from Glynn St to Darling St – all 3 days. 16h00 – 20h00 and on Wednesday from 23:59 to completion.
- Plein Street: between Roeland and Darling Street
- Spin Street: between Parliament and Plein Street
- Commercial Street between Buitenkant and Plein Street
- Parade Street between Caledon and Darling Street
- Corporation Street between Darling and Caledon Street
- Caledon Street: Between Corporation and Parade Street
- Darling Street: between Plein Street and Buitenkant Street
- Longmarket Street: between Plein Street and Buitenkant Street
- Corporation Street: between Caledon Street and Darling Street
- Parade Street: between Caledon Street and Darling Street
- Plein Street: between Roeland Street and Barrack Street
- Commercial Street: between Nieuwmeester Parking and Plein Street
Closed between 04:00 and 23:45 on 10 February 2022.
- Commercial Street between Plein and Buitenkant Street becomes bi-directional
Closed between 04:00 and 23:45 on 10 February 2022 (parking restrictions to remain in place on 14, 15 and 16 February 2022)
- Plein Street: between Roeland and Barrack Street
Closed between 17:45 and 19:30 on 10 February 2022.
- Klipper Road, Newlands: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands Avenue
- Princess Anne Avenue, Newlands: 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
- M3, Union Avenue, Rhodes Drive, Philip Kgosana Drive (De Waal Drive)
- Roeland Street, City Bound Carriageway: from Newlands Avenue to City Centre
- Buitenkant St from Glynn St to Strand St
- Darling St, Sir Lowry Rd from Buitenkant St to Tennant St. This will include a closure of Hanover St at Tennant St.
- Woolsack Drive, Rondebosch, westbound: between Main Road (M4) and Rhodes Drive (M3)
- Anzio Road, Observatory: from Main Road (M4) to Philip Kgosana Drive (De Waal Drive) (M3)
- N2 Settlers Way City-bound carriageway, from Main Road (M4) to City Centre
