President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday 18 July 2024 convene a joint sitting of the newly established two Houses of Parliament to deliver the Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) for the Seventh Administration.

The opening of Parliament will be attended by members of both houses, the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces and will mark the start of the new five-year parliamentary cycle.

The address provides President Cyril Ramaphosa an opportunity to outline the key priorities and policies of the seventh administration. The seventh administration is made up of several political parties that formed a Government of National Unity founded on the respect for the Constitution, the Bill of Rights in its entirety, a united South Africa and the rule of law.

The Opening of Parliament Address coincides with the United Nations-declared Nelson Mandela International Day. The day calls on people around the world to take action to help change the world for the better, and by doing so, build a global movement for good.

Government invites all South Africans to be part of the Opening of Parliament Address on Thursday, 18 July 2024 at 7pm. South Africans can tune into their favourite television or radio station to be part of this national milestone. Proceedings will also be covered via government and parliament social media accounts. South Africans should also familiarise themselves with the contents of the address so everyone can contribute to our growth and development. The address is a rallying point for our entire nation to work together and build on the successes of previous administrations.

It draws us in a common front to find ways to address the challenges we face and improve the lives of people. We should collectively work to transform and grow an inclusive economy that creates jobs and offers opportunities to all in the country. Our achievements over the last 30 years should serve as a timeless reminder of what we can accomplish when we work in unison.

Today we can proudly say that South Africa is a significantly different country from the one we inherited from the apartheid state in 1994.

We must also bear in mind that the challenges we inherited in 1994 could not be completely resolved given our limited resources and time. To build on the achievements of the last 30 years, we need the help of all South Africans and all sectors of society to ensure that we grow the economy, create jobs and bring hope for a better tomorrow.