South Africa: despite the fire in the National Assembly, parliamentary life continues
Audio 02:13
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during his speech to parliamentarians on February 10, 2022 at Cape Town City Hall.
© AP/Nic Bothma
By: Romain Chanson Follow
2 mins
A month and a half after the fire at the National Assembly in Cape Town, parliamentary life continues in South Africa.
For two weeks in early February, the city's town hall was designated as a parliamentary precinct to house the State of the Nation Address and its debates.
This event opens the parliamentary session each year, it is one of the highlights of South African politics.
For the first time in history, this meeting was therefore held outside Parliament.
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From our correspondent in Cape Town,
Red velvet seats, opera-style balconies and a church organ.
We are in the auditorium of the town hall of Cape Town.
It is the decorum of a theater with the attributes of a parliamentary precinct.
And this is unprecedented in the political history of South Africa, underlines Moloto Mothapo, spokesman for the Parliament.
“
We are in unknown
territory”, says Moloto Mothapo.
“
We have never been faced with the situation where a monumental event like the State of the Nation Address has to be held somewhere other than Parliament.
After the fire, the first thing one of the Speakers of Parliament said was
:
'
It doesn't matter who started the fire, they must in no way be allowed to disrupt or delay the work of Parliament
'.
Even the state of the nation address, we're not going to put it off.
»
► To read also: South Africa: a violent fire ravages the Parliament installed in Cape Town
In front of the town hall of Cape Town, the brass band positions itself to honor President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Today is February 10, the day of the speech.
The president faces the military for the national anthem.
He then rushes into the town hall and goes on stage
to deliver his speech to the parliamentarians
.
A smooth transfer
“
The fact that we are meeting in Cape Town Town Hall and not in Parliament underlines the determination of the Speakers of Parliament and all members of both Houses who have decided that the work of this democratic institution must continue without interruption
,” said the President. .
If everything went without a hitch, it is because we are in Cape Town, a city run by the Democratic Alliance since 2006. In any case, this is the message that MP Samantha Graham-Maré, in charge of infrastructure for the first opposition party, the Democratic Alliance.
“
I have to say, how proud I am of our party, because within days the Democratic Alliance offered to make buildings available.
Cape Town has been exemplary in its support
.
»
However, some voices are raised to demand that Parliament be rebuilt in Pretoria, the political capital of South Africa.
A position supported in particular by the party of fighters for economic freedom (EFF).
Only an amendment to the Constitution would allow such a move.
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