Watch: What You Need to Know About Sona (1)

The State of the Nation address, or more commonly referred to as Sona, is a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament and one of the rare occasions that brings together the three arms of the state under one roof.
The address is being hosted at Cape Town City Hall on January 9 this year.
Sona provides the president with an opportunity to speak to the nation on the general state of South Africa, to reflect on a wide range of political, economic and social matters within the domestic and global contexts, to account to the nation on the work of the government and to set out the government’s programme of action. Traditionally, the president makes key government announcements during this important joint sitting of Parliament.
It is a ceremonial joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, called specifically for the president to deliver his Sona and no other business may be considered on this day.
During the week following the Sona, a debate, over approximately two days, is held on the Sona. The president is then given an opportunity to reply to the debate on the third day and to close the debate. The Sona is one of the major general debates of the parliamentary year.
Parliament may accept, reject or amend the allocation of budgets to government departments to ensure that these are in line with national priorities as outlined in the Sona. Parliament may also withhold the budgets of departments whose annual performance plans are not in line with the priorities.