BONGO VISIT
Issued by: SA Communication Service
MEDIA ADVISORY
PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME AND MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE STATE VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA BY H E EL HADJ OMAR BONGO, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GABON, AND MRS EDITH LUCIE BONGO, FROM 20 - 22 NOVEMBER 1996.
WEDNESDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 1996
16:00 President Bongo and Mrs Bongo arrive at the Union Buildings for a full ceremonial welcome (Photo opportunity only)
To be met by President Nelson Mandela at the Main Entrance to the West Wing of the Union Buildings
- National Anthems - 21-gun Salute - Inspection of the Guard of Honour
Media: There will be three media positions: - first position on the platform facing the podium (that is the steps to the entrance) for TV cameramen and stills photographers; - second media position on the sidewalk behind the Guard of Honour for print media and radio journalists; - third media position on the road facing the Guard of honour. Please note that strict pool arrangements will apply for this position: 3 TV cameras & 5 stills photographers.
SA: TV (x1) Stills photographer (x1) Official photographer (x1) Gabon: TV (x1) Stills photographer (x1) Official photographer (x1) FCA: TV (x1) Stills photographer (x1)
Please note that pool members are under obligation to make matrial available to all media on request.
Media representatives are requested to use the steps on the western side of the Union Buildings to gain entrance to the demarcated area (last steps on the left side of the building leading from Government Avenue to the upper terrace). Valid press cards and ID documents/passports will be required at the check point at the top of the steps and all media representatives and their equipment will be searched. In view of this, media representatives are strongly advised to report to the check point not later than 15:30.
Pool media to meet Lydia Young at the check point.
The media are advised to park in Government Avenue which will be open to traffic. The upper terrace road and the rest of the area around the Union Buildings will be closed to traffic.
16:10 President Bongo meets with President Mandela in the President's office
South African and Gabonese delegations proceed to the Presidential Boardroom for bilateral talks.
16:35 President Bongo and President Mandela joint the two delegations in the Presidential Boardroom for discussions.
16:50 President Bongo and President Mandela are joined by their companions for the decoration and signing ceremonies (Photo opportunity only)
- President Bongo is decorated with the Order of Good Hope - Signing of the Bilateral Agreement by the two Presidents
Media: Media representatives covering the ceremonial welcome are requested to stay in their positions until the Guard of Honour has dispersed at the end of the ceremony whereafter they will be accompanied through the Amphitheatre to the stoep entrance of the Presidential Board Room, West Wing.
Please note that no flashlights or direct TV lights will be permitted.
17:10 President Mandela takes leave of President Bongo
THURSDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 1996
09:00-Programme to be confirmed 16:00
19:00 President Bongo and Mrs Bongo attend the State Banquet at the Presidential Guest House
- National Anthems (19:00) - Toast by President Mandela (19:20) - Toast by President Bongo (19:30)
Media: Due to limited space in the banquet hall, strict pool arrangements will apply. Inside the banquet hall the media pool will only be permitted to cover the arrival of the two presidents before the start of the banquet and the speeches.
A distribution box with seven feeds will be available and consequently no media microphones will be allowed on the podium. Electronic media will be required to set up their equipment to cover the speeches before the start of the banquet.
No flashlights or direct TV lights willb e allowed inside the banquet hall.
Electronic and photographic media pool to meet Fred Oberholzer at the side entrance to the banquet hall not later than 18:15. Print media not later than 18:30.
Entrance to the Presidential Guest House will be through Gate 9, Church Street, Pretoria. Valid press cards and ID documents/passports will be required and all media representatives, their vehicles and equipment will be searched. Media representatives should allow approximately 20 minutes for security procedures since no late-comers will be accommodated.
Please note that pool members are under obligation to make material available to all media on request.
Media pool for State Banquet: 3 TV cameras, 2 official photographers, 3 stills photographers, 3 print media, 3 radio media.
SA: 1 TV camera (x2) 1 Official photographer 1 Stills photographer 1 Scribe 2 Radio
Gabon: 1 TV CAMERA (X2) 2 Photographers 2 Journalists
FCA: 1 TV camera (x2) 1 Photographer 1 Scribe
FRIDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 1996
09:00-Programme to be confirmed 11:00
12:00 President Bongo and Mrs Bongo depart for Gabon
Media: No media arrangements have been made for the departure.
ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNICATION SERVICE
Pretoria 18 November 1996
Contact persons: Lydia Young SACS Tel (012) 314 2452 Fax (012) 326 0317 Cell 082 557 9221
Marco Boni Department of Foreign Affairs Tel (012) 351 0128 Fax (012) 351 0260 Cell 083 260 8734