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Behind the Scenes: Preparations at Parliament

417 views · Published 9 December 2013 · 0:46 · Indexed 29 October 2026

Channel: Parliament of the Republic of South Africa · 2013 · News & Politics

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Parliament Remembers Madiba

Within hours of the President's announcement of the death of Tata Mandela, Parliament's planning team was in action, dealing with the myriad minutely detailed logistics involved in carrying out the instructions of the Presiding Officers. The message was clear - open the parliamentary precinct to the people.

Mr Max Sisulu, the National Assembly Speaker, and Mr Mninwa Mahlangu, Chairperson of the NCOP, sent a clear message to the first 8am meeting: Madiba opened the People's Parliament to ordinary citizens during the first term of South Africa's first-ever democratic parliament. And that is exactly how Parliament will bid farewell to him.

The message from the Acting Secretary to Parliament, Ms Baby Tyawa, was echoed in the almost hourly coordinating meetings that followed in the next 48 hours.

The word must get out: all are invited.

Parliament had to mobilise over 450 MPs who had already dispersed to their communities and constituencies around the country.

Parliament had already adjourned when the nation's beloved former president passed on and the annual revamp of the precinct was already well underway.

There were just days, hours really, to relay the carpets, replace the seats in the Chamber, speed up the long-awaited update of the sound system. The end-of-year revamp had to be undone and redone in record time.

How to get all the MPs flown down to Cape Town and again to Johannesburg in time for the memorial service at the FNB Stadium?

Suitable buses had to be procured. Accommodation secured at hotels that were fast filling up, as foreign press and dignatories started flying in. The Chief Financial Officer was on hand on the weekend to authrise procurement.

Protocol was at the helm. "Some MPs are old. They can't stand in line for hours during the lying in state," pointed out one of the most senior parliamentary officials.

And that was just the planning required for ensuring Parliamentary MPs attendance at the official memorial service in Gauteng and the funeral in Qunu.

The meetings broke up regularly each time President Zuma released more information.As he confirmed the date and then the time of the official events, planning gained momentum.

A military-like operation kicked off to arrange the Joint Sitting of both Houses befitting to the departure of our departed icon. First come, first served was the favoured optionbut t.he security, registration, seating implications had to be factored in. The public would need toilets. They would need to know where to place their wreaths, sign the condolence book - and 16 such books had been produced.

Within hours of Mr Mandela's passing, the exhibition recording Madiba's years in Parliament, in his own words, with iconic footage and photography, was being set up. A fold-up pamphlet reflecting the Parliament of Madiba was being handed out to citizens who had gathered. "A gift from Parliament," commuters were told as they were handed copies in the vicinity of the central public transport hub.

The word went out - on Parliament's social media platforms, community and commercial media, radio announcements - the People's Parliament was ready to welcome the people of South Africa, visitors, well-wishers, even the local homeless population
Parliament would welcome all the people in the way Madiba was remembered to have done. The president who greeted cleaning staff warmly, asked after the family health of individual staff members, who created headaches for his security body guards by regularly breaking away to mingle with the crowds of supporters who appeared at every turn.

This was the Parliament of Madiba. It has been a long time since he retired , but clearly the legacy has continued. The lessons he left have been well learned and remembered. Parliament is saying farewell to our beloved Madiba in a way that would have made him proud.

Moira Levy

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