State of the Nation to cost R4m - Parliament
Updated | By Eva Chipa
Parliament’s presiding officers
say President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address and the subsequent
debates will cost the taxpayer R4 million.
National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and acting secretary Penelope Tyawa addressed the media on Tuesday on the preparations for the flagship event.
Mapisa-Nqakula says the eleventh-hour change in the venue has caused a major setback in the planning.
“The venue has caused a serious setback in the planning and preparations, which ordinarily begin several months in advance.”
The Cape Town City Hall was declared the precinct of Parliament from 31 January until 16 February 2022, due to the devasting fire that burnt parts of the National Assembly building.
Tyawa says the fact that the event will be held at Cape Town City Hall means the costs will be a bit more than in previous years.
“Noting the fact, the City Hall is a place we have to invest wall to wall broadcast ICT, catering, furniture, and interpretation facilities, in budget estimated we have put aside R4 million.
“That includes the debates up until the response of the president. On the day itself we are anticipating an expenditure of about 1.9 million, but like I said this is budget. It is therefore anticipated that the budget may be more.”
SONA is set to take place on Thursday evening at 7pm.Show's Stories
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