On Thursday 11 February, Jacob Zuma will give his State of the Nation Address (SONA) at Parliament, and boy is there a lot for the president to talk about. Between the flailing economy, the #FeesMustFall movement and the startling declaration by Zuma that he will pay back the money for Nkandla, a lot is expected from this speech. While the whole country will be watching this vital address, for those of us who live or work in the CBD, SONA brings a lot of admin with it.
President Zuma will present the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on 11 February at 7pm #SONA #SONA2016 pic.twitter.com/kfygeCb60T
— Rural Dev & Land Ref (@DRDLR_online) February 9, 2016
There will be road closures in and around the city; public transport and parking will be affected and News24 reports that three groups have been given permission to protest in the city during SONA. To help you navigate the next few days, here is what you need to know. The City of Cape Town states that road closures will affect traffic on the M3, N2 city-bound lanes and Newlands. While SONA is on Thursday, road closures will commence on Tuesday 9 February.
Here is a brief breakdown of which roads will be closed:
Tuesday and Wednesday
Bureau Street: between Adderley and Parliament Streets / Spin Street: between Corporation and Parliament Street / Parliament Street: between Parliament and Longmarket Street. John’s Road: between Roeland and Vrede Street’s Gallery Lane / Bouquet Street: whole / Roeland Street: between Plein and Buitenkant Streets / Commercial Street.
These streets will be closed between 5 pm and 12 am and Harrington street will be closed from 5 pm to 7 pm.
City advises of road closures for the State of the Nation Address and rehearsals: https://t.co/RlCjwx3HXz pic.twitter.com/LvbwJFFsjx
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) February 8, 2016
Thursday
All the streets mentioned above will be closed from 4 pm with the addition of: Adderley Street: between Strand Street and Wale Street / Plein Street / Hope Street / Roland Street / Buitenkant Street. The M3 / N2 inbound / Woolsack Drive / Azario road will also be closed. In Newlands, the following roads will be closed Klipper Road / Princess Anne Avenue / Newlands Avenue.
On SONA day, no cars will be allowed to park in any parking bays around the Parliament and the Company Gardens area, including the St. Mary’s Cathedral Parking Area. Adderly, Strand and Darling street will also be no Park zones. In Newlands, you will not be allowed to park on Klipper Road or Princess Anne Avenue.
For a full timetable and alternative routes click here.
Public Transport
For those who make use of busses, you should not be too badly affected but there will be route changes to accommodate all the road closures. The MyCiTi stops at Darling, Lower Buitenkant, Roeland and Roodehek will be closed. The bus will divert via Loop/Long Street and Buitensingel Street to/from the Gardens stop. Groote Kerk Stop will also be closed and you can use the Longmarket or Church stops instead.
Be sure to plan your routes home carefully on these days as there will be heavy traffic. Good luck and happy driving!
Kat Alice Coetzee this might affect me getting into town?
That’s just ridiculous
Is the Sona open for the public to attend? Would like to go and see it up close…
I like how this article doesn’t make Amy mention regarding getting in and out of ones apartment parking lot?! I know of plenty people Livni g in the city centre that won’t be able to gain access to their own flats.
They cannot think proactively to work that one out how citizens of Cape Town will gain entrance to their flats.
Awesum how they think just another screwd up jobby will we ever get rid of these morons
Zooma obviously afraid…..
Thanks for reminding me to check
I’ll be attending the #ZumaMustFallMarch while JZ tries to read from a piece of paper U0001f44dU0001f1ffU0001f1e6
Should close the roads afterwards and lock them in the building of hoe
Think this SONA is obviously for people who have zero education, no ears, cannot read and no eyes to see for themselfs what is happening in SA. Maybe another jz fantasy dream speach completely divorced from reality.
It will affect traffic in and outbound as it has been for years as traffic has to detour via routes that are accessible
Why?….. Does he dribble?…..
Will it be confessions time in Parliament?? I don’t think so!! They’ll turn Paradise (Cape Town) into a parking lot, ha ha ha ha.
we will need to close more than roads
Why bother with the “state of the union” address?
EVERYONE KNOWS THE UNION IS IN A TERRIBLE STATE !!!
Daai sirkus vind elke jaar plaas en die narre kom al van vroeg af aan. Verlede jaar is van die sirkusnarre sonder water gelos in daardie snikhete lugverkoelde sirkus gebou.
I wonder if they will “close” the cell network again too!
Thank you sweetheart!!
The pope is coming
Lets hope its a resignation speech
another waste of money exercise