#SONA 2025: 9 Facts About SONA

1. What is the SONA?
It is an annual address given by the President to a joint session of Parliament and marks the official opening of the legislature. SONA provides the President with an opportunity to speak to the nation on the general state of South Africa, reflect on a wide range of political, economic and social matters within the domestic and global contexts, and account to the nation on the work of government while setting out the government’s programme of action for the year. This is a special and unique occasion where all three arms of the state are in the same place together.
2. Time and place
SONA will be delivered on Thursday, 6 February 2025 at 19:00 to a prime time tv audience. Since 2010, SONA has been delivered in the evening to give more South Africans an opportunity to listen to the address. Due to the 2022 parliamentary fire, SONA has had to temporarily relocate from being delivered in the National Assembly Chamber to Cape Town’s City Hall. As of Monday, 01 February 2025, the City Hall has been designated as the Parliamentary precinct in line with Section 2 of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliaments and Provincial Legislatures Act.
3. Theme
The theme for this event is: ““Harnessing Parliamentary Diplomacy for Realisation of Global Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.” According to a recent media statement, this theme aligns with Parliament’s hosting of the G20 Parliamentary Speakers Summit (P20) later in the year. The statement states that aligning the SONA 2025 with the P20 activities will create a synergy between parliamentary business and pursuing global, regional and national development imperatives.
4. What will the President say?
The speech will seek to build on previous speeches and commitments. During SONA, the President highlights achievements, flags challenges, and outlines interventions for the coming financial year. This address marks the official start of the parliamentary programme and sets out the government's key policy objectives and deliverables for the year ahead. He is expected to reflect on the first year of governance under the Government of National Unity (GNU).
5. Who are the key guests at the State of the Nation Address?
There are around 2000 guests expected to attend this year's SONA. Guests include former Presidents and Deputy Presidents, former presiding officers of Parliament, the judiciary, Premiers and Speakers of provincial legislatures, the heads of Chapter 9 institutions, religious leaders, business owners, trade unionists, school learners, members of the European Union (EU), civil society organisations, traditional leaders, members of the diplomatic corps and the Mayor of Cape Town.
Each of the nine provinces is represented by its full quota of six permanent and four rotating members. A delegation of 10 South African Local Government Association members must also be present.
One of the important elements of the SONA since the start of democracy is the Imbongi, or praise singer, performance. The Imbongi for the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) is the esteemed Xhosa-speaking poet, Inako Mateza. At just 19 years old, Inako has already made her mark as a cultural icon and community leader. Born in Ludiza Village, Willowvale, in the Amathole District of the Eastern Cape, she founded the Inako Foundation, an initiative dedicated to preserving cultural heritage and educating over 400 young people about their cultures and traditions.
As part of fostering civic awareness and public engagement, SONA 2025 will feature the Junior Guard of Honour, comprising 100 learners from four Western Cape schools, selected in collaboration with the Western Cape Department of Education.
6. Budget
This year Parliament has budgeted R6 million for SONA. In 2024, Parliament budgeted R6.5 million and in 2023, R5 million.
7. When do political parties get to respond to the SONA?
The debate on the State of the Nation Address is scheduled for Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th of February 2025. This allows the opposition to give a rebuttal to the President’s speech while those from the governing party defend the President and the government's record and proposals. On Thursday the 13th of February 2025 the President will be allowed to respond to the debate. These sittings are set to take place at the Dome tent being constructed in the Nieuwmeester parking area by the Department of Public Works, expected to be completed next week.
8. What is the format of the ceremony?
The official programme usually begins with three processions. There is the procession of provincial Speakers, provincial Premiers, and the judiciary proceeding to the Assembly Chamber through the main entrance of the National Assembly building. There is also the arrival of the presidential cavalcade in the parliamentary precincts. The President alights, is welcomed by the Presiding Officers
As the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, aides-de-camp are attached to the President of the Republic of South Africa at all state ceremonies. Their role in the country is limited to ceremonial duties. Once this task has been fulfilled, they will be immediately withdrawn. During the SONA, they travel with the President from the President’s residence to Parliament.
To start proceedings, the Presiding Officers, while standing, bow to the left and then to the right in greeting and request a moment of silence for prayer or meditation. Once everyone is seated, the Presiding Officer reads out the notice, which calls the joint sitting and calls on the President to deliver the Address to the joint sitting.
As the joint sitting is called specifically for the President to deliver his SONA, no other business may be considered on this day.
9. Where can I watch?
You can catch the live broadcast on SABC Radio, SABC TV, various other news broadcasting channels and Parliament TV (DSTV Channel 408). It will also be streamed on Parliament’s YouTube channel. It is scheduled to start at 19:00 on Thursday the 6th of February 2025.

We host the latest posts of this blog, written by People's Assembly. You can find more on PA's blog.

We host the latest posts of this blog, written by People's Assembly. You can find more on PA's blog.