THE State of the Nation Address (Sona) will cost taxpayers R6,5 million this year.
This was said by Xolile George, secretary of Parliament, on Tuesday, 6 February during the parliament's presiding officers press briefing in preparation for the Sona, which is scheduled for Thursday, 8 February.
George said that events like this require considerable resources to provide all the logistical infrastructure.
"Knowing that parliament is not working within the parliament that we had, we have set aside an amount of R6,5 million as a budget," he said.
George said they will know exactly how much it was after the event. In 2023, parliament spent R5 million on Sona.
Reacting to a last-minute application by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) that their leader Julius Malema and five others be allowed to attend Thursday’s event, parliamentary deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli said parliament would defend itself in court.
"It's our responsibility to govern ourselves," Tsenoli said.
He said the officers hoped that all members of parliament, including those from the EFF, would respect parliament.
"We will never rest and not remind all members of parliament to recognise the venue and importance of parliament and how it conducts its affairs," Tsenoli said.
Malema, party deputy leader Floyd Shivambu, secretary-general Marshall Dlamini, national spokesman Sinawo Thambo, MPs Vuyani Pambo and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi were found guilty of disrupting Sona 2023.
ALSO READ| SONA: Ramaphosa told to stop with promises
They entered the stage where President Cyril Ramaphosa was sitting.
Sona is convened by the president to inform the nation on government commitments and to outline the government’s programme of action for the new financial year.
The Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has introduced a set of new joint rules designed to regulate proceedings during joint sittings of the NA and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), with the primary aim of maintaining order, decorum in the Chamber, and promoting civility among members.
"In terms of the new rules, no member is allowed to interrupt the president while delivering the State of the Nation Address. Similarly, interruptions are prohibited during the president's speech at the Opening of Parliament, which is the first sitting of the two Houses following an election. Additionally, these rules stipulate that no other business may be considered during a joint sitting other than the specific business for which the joint sitting is convened,” she said.
Mapisa-Nqakula said these measures were critical in ensuring that these important national events were conducted in an orderly and respectful manner.
