Media release

Preparations for the 2014 Presidential Inauguration

20 May 2014

20 May 2014

Government’s official plans for the Presidential Inauguration taking place on 24 May 2014 in the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre at the Union Buildings are underway. Firstly, government wishes to clarify media reports on the budget allocation for the Presidential Inauguration.

In response to media questions last week about the cost of the Inauguration, government indicated at the time that the expenditure will be less than what has been spent on previous Inaugurations for different Presidents.

Minister Collins Chabane, Chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee coordinating the 2014 Presidential Inauguration, indicated last week that the 2014 Inauguration had been budgeted for within various government departments.

Departments have been encouraged to cut out any expenses that can be avoided so as to be sensitive to the austerity measures applied throughout government. Accountability in this regard will follow the normal accounting procedures.

On 24 May 2014, proceedings will start with invited guests and members of the public arriving at the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre at the Union Buildings and the Southern Lawns from 08h00. People will be transported from provinces across the country to be in time for the event.

Government has thus far received confirmations from 26 Heads of State and 11 Prime Ministers and/or Vice-Presidents. This equates to a total of 37 Heads of State and Government who will attend.

Also in attendance will be 4 former Heads of State, 14 Eminent Persons and 118 foreign ambassadors resident in South Africa. There will be Park and Ride facilities for all people attending the Inauguration. There will be no private vehicle access to the Union Buildings or the area immediately surrounding the venue. Tshwane Metro Police will effect road closures in and around the Union Buildings precinct. Even though the event is taking place on a weekend, Tshwane Metro Police will enforce the road closures and motorists are kindly requested to adhere to the arrangements made for this day.

The Park and Ride facility for invited guests and VIPs will be at Rietondale Park on Soutpansberg Road. The Park and Ride will be open from 5am.

Guests who will be transported from Rietondale Park are expected to be seated in the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre at the Union Buildings by 08h30.

The Park and Ride for members of the public will be at the Tshwane Events Centre, where shuttles will operate from 06h00. A number of road closures, detailed below, will be in operation around the Union Buildings and Bryntirion.  Residents in streets affected by these closures will be asked to present their municipal accounts – or certified copies thereof – at the traffic control points.

The road closures, concentrated in the area immediately surrounding the Union Buildings, are as follows:

From 06h00 on 21 May 2014 until 18h00 on 26 May 2014:
Wessels Street between Pretorius and Stanza Bopape Street.

From 06h00 on 23 May 2014 until 19h00 on 24 May 2014:
Government Avenue between Edmond Street and Blackwood Street; Madiba Street between Zeederberg Street and Stanza Bopape Street.

From 22h00 on 23 May 2014 until 19h00 on 24 May 2014:

  • Edmond Street between Hamilton Street and Government Avenue;
  • Madiba Street between Hamilton and Zeederberg streets;
  • Zeederberg Street between Stanza Bopape and Madiba streets;
  • Government Avenue between Blackwood and Dumbarton streets;
  • Blackwood Street between Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue;
  • Pine Street between Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue;
  • Beckett Street between Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue;
  • East Avenue between Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue;
  • Eastwood Street between Stanza Bopape Street and Tom Jenkins Drive;
  • Lisdogan Avenue between Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue;
  • Balmoral Avenue between Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue;
  • Dumbarton Street between Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue;
  • Tom Jenkins Drive between Russell Eastwood streets;

From 00h00 until 19h00 on 24 May 2014

  • Hamilton Street between Soutpansberg Road and Pretorius Street;
  • Stanza Bopape Street between Steve Biko and Jan Shoba streets;
  • Madiba Street between Steve Biko and Hamilton streets;
  • Edmond Street between Steve Biko and Hamilton streets;
  • Leyds Street between Pretorius and Stanza Bopape streets;
  • Johan Street between Pretorius and Stanza Bopape streets;
  • Beckett Street between Pretorius and Stanza Bopape streets;
  • Eastwood Street between Pretorius and Stanza Bopape streets;
  • Wessels Street between Frances Baard and Park streets.

Residents living in affected streets are asked to choose the shortest route or closest entry and exit points for access because Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue will be a traffic-free zone.
Normal bus routes and public transport routes will be diverted as well on 24 May 2014.

Traffic control points will be set up at the following intersections:

  • Soutpansberg and Hamilton
  • Stanza Bopape and Hamilton
  • Stanza Bopape and Gordon
  • Soutpansberg and Gordon

Construction on the Bus Rapid Transit project will continue.Tshwane Bus Service will operate about 80 buses between the Tshwane Events Centre (Tshwabec) on Stanza Bopape Street in the west of the city from 06h00 on May 24.These buses will transport members of the public to the Southern Lawns of the Union Buildings.
In view of the security requirements for the Inauguration and the role of the South African Air Force in the Inauguration event, government calls on the aviation community to observe the following flight restrictions:

  • Temporary Restricted Military Air Space 1: one nautical mile around the Union Buildings from ground to 7 500 feet, from 06h00 until 18h00 on 24 May 2014;
  • Temporary Military Restricted Air Space 2: 25 nautical miles around the Union Buildings from ground to Flight Level 460, excluding the CTR (Control Zone) of Oliver Tambo and Lanseria from 09h00 until 18h00 on 24 May 2014.

All times indicated are local South African time. There will be close coordination between Air Traffic Navigation Services and the South African Air Force to ensure compliance as well as to minimise the impact on civil aviation activities.

However, during the times indicated, all air fields in the restricted air space in the above areas will be closed and no flights will be allowed to fly into or take off from these fields.

The South African Police Service will assist with this aspect at the various air fields. These restrictions will be in place for a limited period and government will appreciate the cooperation of the aviation community. The Southern Lawns of the Union Buildings will only be able to accommodate 20 000 people. The event will also be broadcast on television and radio – including community radio.

Members of the public attending the occasion are advised that the following items are forbidden at the event:

  • Alcohol or drugs
  • Firearms or weapons
  • Bottles or cans.

The Department of Arts and Culture will, in the course of the next few days, host a detailed briefing on the cultural programme for May 24, which will feature a morning session with a diverse range of performances spanning DJs, hip-hop and salsa acts, Afrikaans pop, jazz ensembles, Sotho and Tswana dance.

Government would like to encourage all South Africans to be part of this momentous occasion in our country. Those who cannot attend will be able to follow proceedings on television and radio, or at 47 public viewing areas in the provinces.

Together We Move South Africa Forward!

Enquiries:
Phumla Williams
Contact: 083 501 0139

Issued by Government Communication and Information System ( GCIS)

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