Cape Town: Parliament has implemented a comprehensive plan of temporary road closures and parking restrictions around the Cape Town City Hall in preparation for the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Cyril Ramaphosa, set to take place on a Thursday evening. The closures are scheduled from 1 to 19 February 2025, with the ceremony commencing at 7pm.
According to South African Government News Agency, the list of road closures was made public on Tuesday, which includes a full closure on 6 February 2025. The restrictions and closures are divided into several blocks and are aimed at ensuring the smooth running of the event and maintaining security in the area.
Block 1 will see the closure of Corporation Street, between Darling and Longmarket Streets, alongside curbside fencing around the perimeter of the Cape Town City Hall. Pedestrian access will be facilitated by a gate at the intersection of Longmarket and Corporation Streets.
For Block 2, rehearsals on 4 and 5 February 2025 will cause closures from 06:00 to 23:59 on Darling Street and Parade Street, with additional closures around Castle Street and fencing along Corporation Street and other key areas.
Block 3 focuses on rehearsal closures from 17:00 to 20:00 on 4 and 5 February 2025, impacting Buitenkant Street, Roeland Street, and other adjacent streets. This set of closures ensures a secure rehearsal environment.
Block 4 encompasses parking restrictions from the evening of 5 February to the end of 6 February 2025. The affected areas include Roeland Street, Commercial Street, and several others, demanding residents and visitors to adjust their parking plans accordingly.
Block 5 details the specific closures on 6 February 2025, with roads like Darling Street, Hanover Street, and Longmarket Street being closed from 05:00 to 23:59. Additionally, several other streets will experience closures later in the day, especially those leading to and from Newlands and the city center, to manage the expected traffic flow efficiently.
These comprehensive measures highlight the extensive preparations undertaken by the Parliament to ensure the State of the Nation Address proceeds without incident, providing adequate security and orderliness throughout the event.