State of the Nation
Nelson Mandela wants to attend President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation address next week; Zuma’s predecessor, former president Thabo Mbeki has yet to confirm his attendance, while former deputy president FW de Klerk, who is in Greece, will not attend.
Two other former deputy presidents, Baleka Mbete and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, will be present on Wednesday.
National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu said yesterday that Mandela had strongly indicated his desire to attend. However, he was frail and if the 90-year-old statesman could not be present, “we will understand”.
The theme of Zuma’s address is Parliament entrenching people-centred democracy in achieving developmental goals.
There will be a mounted police escort and a military ceremonial motorcade; the SANDF will line the president’s route; and a national salute by the army’s Ceremonial Guard. There will also be an Air Force military band, a fly-past by the Air Force and a 21-gun salute.
An imbongi (praise-singer) will also be on hand to sing Zuma’s praises.
The president will walk from the gates of Parliament to the National Assembly through a guard of honour of 100 representatives of civil society org-anisations and a junior guard of honour of 250 leaders from schools in all nine provinces.
Big screens in all the provinces will broadcast the proceedings live, as will television and radio.
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29 Mai 2009 à 12:02 dans
- zsandf (anglais)
