ANALYSIS | No more reality TV: Parliament's strict new rules a consequence of previous disruptions

News24 reflects on the past seven times President Cyril Ramaphosa has addressed joint sittings of the two Houses of Parliament and analyses why there was a need to change the rules that govern the State of the Nation Address and the opening of Parliament.

Expect a more bureaucratic process and less reality TV at the 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA) than the past seven times President Cyril Ramaphosa took to the podium to address Parliament.

Disruptions and delays are synonymous with the SONA, but this year we're unlikely to see any of that. This is because of the many rule changes – tabled in December 2023 and implemented early this year – for the joint sittings of Parliament.