The State of the Nation Address (SONA) is taking place on Thursday, 10 February, at Cape Town City Hall. And as part of the preparations for the ceremony, Parliament has announced that Capetonians can expect temporary road closures until 16 February.
On the day of SONA, there will be full closure around the City Hall.
Due to the devasting Parliament fire last month, the 2022 SONA will be delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa at 19:00 at Cape Town City Hall. This is the first time the ceremony will not be held at Parliament.
Road closures to be expected:
Corporation Street (located between Darling and Longmarket Street) will be completely closed to motorists from 05:00 – 23:59.
Curbside fencing around Cape Town City Hall will also be affected until 16 February. This includes:
- Darling Street
- Corporation Street
- Parade Street
- Longmarket Street
And due to rehearsals for SONA, these road closures can be expected until Wednesday (9 February) between 17:00 and 23:59:
- Darling Street: between Plein and Buitenkant Streets
- Darling Street: between Buitenkant Street and the Castle of Good Hope (Traffic Control)
Road closures on Thurday – the day of SONA
On the day of the ceremony, the following streets will be closed from 17:45 to 19:30:
- Roeland Street: between Buitenkant and Brandweer Streets
- Buitenkant Street: between Roelnad and Darling Streets
Temporary closures are to be expected from 17:45 to 19:00:
- 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 Avenue
- 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 Main Road (M4) to Philip Kgosana Drive (De Waal Drive) (M3)
- N2, Settlers Way City-bound carriageway: from Main Road (M4) to city centre
- Buitenkant Street: from Glynn to Strand Streets
- Darling Street, Sir Lowry Road: from Buitenkant to Tennant Streets (this will include a closure of Hanover Street and Tennant Street)
Contingency closures to be expected
On Thursday, 10 February, contingency closures can be expected in case of an emergency. These areas will be closed from 08:00 to 23:45 and will apply to rads contained in parking restrictions.
Parking restrictions will apply from midnight 9 to 10 February in the following areas:
- Parade, Cape Town
- Roeland Street: outgoing lane between Plein Street and 37 Plein Street (Bld. Next to Nieuwmeester parking)
- Buitenkant Street from Glynn to Darling Streets (all 3 days 16:00 – 20:00 and on 9 Feb. from 23:59 to completion)
- Plein Street: between Roeland and Darling Streets
- Spin Street: between Parliament and Plein Streets
- Commercial Street: between Buitenkant and Plein Streets
- Parade Street: between Caledon and Darling Streets
- Corporation Street: between Darling and Caledon Streets
- Caledon Street: between Corporation and Parade Streets
These areas will again be restricted from 14 to 16 February.
Road closures included in parking restrictions:
- Darling Street: between Plein and Buitenkant Streets
- Longmarket Street: between Plein and Buitenkant Streets
- Corporation Street: between Caledon and Darling Streets
- Parade Street: between Caledon and Darling Streets
- Plein Street: between Roeland and Barrack Streets
- Commercial Street: between Nieuwmeester Parking and Plein Street
The State of the Nation is set to take place on the 10th of February while the SONA debate and replies will take place from 14 to 16 February.
Media Statement: Road closures to be implemented ahead of SONA