SONA: What you need to know

City Hall, state ceremonial, road closures and where to watch

Last updated: 8 February 2023

On Thursday, 9 February, President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his seventh State of the Nation Address (SONA). This will be the second year that SONA is held at the Cape Town City Hall after a fire destroyed parts of the Parliament building. Find out more, plus see the road closure schedule. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his seventh State of the Nations Address. 

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM SONA 2023

President Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address will be delivered to a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. SONA will be held at Cape Town City Hall for the second year following the devastating fire at Parliament. 

The city hall carries great historical significance: It’s where former President Nelson Mandela addressed the nation for the first time after his release from prison in 1990. Mandela also appeared at City Hall in 1994 after he was elected South Africa’s first democratic president. 

President Ramaphosa and his guests will walk the red carpet, where the Civil Guard of Honor will welcome them. There will be a 21-gun salute, as well as the South African Air Force fly-by and the military band playing South Africa’s national anthem.

 
President Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address will take place at Cape Town City Hall. Image: Leo Moko 

ROAD CLOSURE SCHEDULE   

Several road closures and parking restrictions will take place for SONA on Thursday, 9 February 2023: 

Parking restrictions from 8pm, 8 February 2023, to 11:59pm, 9 February 2023:

• Roeland from Brandweer to Plein Street
• Commercial Street
• Buitenkant from Glynn to Castle Street
• Darling Street from Sir Lowry to Plein Street
• Caledon Street from Corporation to Buitenkant Street
• Corporation Street from Darling to Albertus Street
• Parade Street between Albertus Street and Darling Street
  
  

Closures from 5:45pm to 8pm, 9 February 2023:

• Klipper Road, Newlands: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands Avenue
• Princess Anne Avenue, Newlands: From Newlands Avenue to Union Avenue
• Newlands Avenue, Newlands: from Dean Street to Princess Anne Avenue
• Dean Street, Newlands westbound: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands
• M3, Union Avenue, Rhodes Drive, Philip Kgosana Drive (De Waal Drive)
• Roeland Street, City Bound Carriageway: from Newlands Avenue to City Centre
• Woolsack Drive, Rondebosch, westbound: between Main Road (M4) and Rhodes Drive (M3)
• Anzio Road, Observatory: from MainRoad (M4) to Philip Kgosana Drive (De Waal Drive) (M3)
• N2 Settlers Way City-bound carriageway, from Main Road (M4) to City Centre
• Roeland Street: between Buitenkant and Brandweer Street
• Buitenkant Street: between Roeland and Darling Street Annexure 
  
  

Closures from 6pm to 11:59pm, 9 February 2023:

• Darling Street from Lower Plein Street to Corporation Street
• Longmarket Street between Plein and Corporation Street
• Corporation Street between Longmarket and Caledon Street
• Longmarket Street between Plein to Buitenkant Street
• Parade Street from Albertus Street to Darling Street
  
  

WATCH SONA 2023 LIVE

Ceremonial aspects will start from 5pm on Thursday, 9 February, and President Ramaphosa’s speech is set to kick off at 7pm. SONA will be on all major news channels, such as eNCA, Newzroom Afrika and SABC News. You can also watch it live on YouTube, and we will embed the live broadcast right here closer to the time of the address.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA'S HISTORY 

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