Issued by: Gauteng Legislature
MEDIA STATEMENT
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature will be opening its Third Legislature Year during the Morning of Friday at the City Hall in Johannesburg. Central to the Opening of the Legislature will be Premier Sexwale's address in the Selborne Hall. The new debating Chamber that will be used for all Sittings of the House in the future.
The Premier's address is of importance to the province as it will indicate policy for the next Legislative Year in Gauteng. This policy will also be of special significance for the entire South Africa, because Gauteng is the second most populous province in the country (after KwaZulu Natal), and therefore has a particularly unique blend of social and political characteristics.
As part of the ceremony, Premier Tokyo Sexwale will arrive at the Legislature Building and be welcomed on the Rissik Street Piazza by the Speaker, Mr Trevor Fowler, where he will take a salute from an honorary police guard.
Proceedings in the Hall before the Premier delivers the Opening Address will include presentations by a Choir and an Imbongi, as well as prayers by four religious leaders representing the Christian, Islamic, Hindu and Jewish faiths. Mr Sexwale 's address will begin at 09H30, after which the House will adjourn at around lunch time for a reception in the Public Forum on the ground floor. The reception will be hosted by the Speaker, with the Premier as the Guest of Honour, and it will end at around 15H00.
Other guests will include Members of National Parliament; members of the Consular Corpse from several Consulates; Labour, Civic and Business leaders; the provincial head of the South African Police Service, Commissioner D.S. Maharaj; the provincial Director-General, Mr Vincent Mtambo, and Directors of Departments. Mrs Thelma Fowler and Mrs Judy Sexwale will also be present.
There will be several photo opportunities, and photographers are requested to contact the undersigned in Room 144 for temporary access cards. Journalists are reminded to wear their cards visibly at all times inside the building, as this is a necessary security stipulation. For parking in the Harry Hofmeyer Garage journalists may use their Media access cards for entry, after which they will be given tickets which must be stamped at the President Street reception, for free use. Parking bays are very limited, and all are advised to arrive early for space.
Also limited are seats in the Media Gallery on the second floor, where journalists will be free to use the left-hand side for proceedings in Selborne Hall.
(signed) MOEMISE MOTSEPE (Media Liaison Officer)
(Issued by the Communication Department of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature)