The opening of Parliament next month will take place in the evening for the first time in the history of the legislature, officials said on Monday.
“We have received that request from the Presidency that the opening be on Thursday evening and we have acceded to the request,” the head of communications in Parliament, Luzuko Jacobs, said.
President Jacob Zuma will deliver his State of the Nation address at 7pm on Thursday February 11, his office confirmed.
Parliament traditionally opens on a Friday morning, with the president’s speech to a joint sitting of the houses of the legislature starting at 11am.
Zuma’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said the unprecedented change was made to allow more South Africans the opportunity to follow the president’s message on television.
“The president changed the time to 7pm to afford all South Africans, especially the workers, students and schoolchildren, an opportunity to watch the proceedings in their homes after hours.
“The majority of workers do not have access to television sets at work, while students and schoolchildren are naturally unable to watch due to study commitments during the day, when this is an important occasion for them as well.”
Magwenya said Zuma chose the date of February 11 to mark the 20th anniversary of the release of former president Nelson Mandela from prison. “The day will bring all South Africans together to mark the defining moment in the history of the country, including the unbanning of organisations, which had happened on the February 2.”
He said the president’s speech would “celebrate national unity and reconciliation”.
Jacobs said the State of the Nation address would be preceded by the usual military parade and red-carpet reception of MPs. — Sapa