Murray Swart|Published4 hours agoHeightened security measures for State of the Nation Address in Cape Town

As SONA 2026 approaches, ordinary South Africans wait for answers beyond the annual promises. Cape Town’s CBD will be placed under heightened security on Thursday night as the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) is delivered at City Hall, with authorities warning that “no disruptions will be allowed and tolerated by law enforcement.” The address, scheduled for 7pm on Thursday, February 12, will take place before a joint sitting of Parliament, with City Hall continuing to serve as the parliamentary precinct following the 2022 fire that destroyed the National Assembly chamber. The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) said it was “confident that adequate and sufficient safety and security deployments are in place to ensure a peaceful, safe, and secure 2026 State of the Nation Address.” Drawing on experience from previous national events, NATJOINTS said SONA would proceed “in a secure environment, supported by the cooperation of all attendees and key stakeholders.” Authorities have confirmed that a restricted airspace of one nautical mile around City Hall will be enforced from 7am until 10pm, with flights banned from ground level up to 5 000 feet.

The restriction applies to both manned and unmanned aircraft. “The airspace will be monitored by the airspace security team to ensure a strictly no-fly zone for drones,” NATJOINTS said, warning that “transgressors will be charged for the violation of the Civil Aviation Regulations.” Law-enforcement agencies have already mobilised additional resources, with officials saying police visibility would be increased “to prevent and combat opportunistic crime before, during, and after the address.” The City of Cape Town’s Traffic Services has issued a road closure advisory affecting streets around City Hall, urging residents, motorists and businesses to familiarise themselves with the restrictions and plan alternative routes. NATJOINTS also cautioned members of the public without valid accreditation to avoid the area, saying “any lawlessness, criminality, or behaviour that contravenes the law will be dealt with accordingly.” SONA 2026 has a budget of R7 million, up from R6 million in 2025 and R6.5 million in 2024, reflecting increased logistical and security costs associated with hosting the event outside Parliament.

The security operation coincides with the Investing in African Mining Indaba, currently under way in Cape Town. NATJOINTS said the event had been secured “without incident or disruptions,” adding to its confidence that Thursday evening’s address would take place “with minimal to zero incidents.”