1. Joint sittings of the Democratic Republic of South Africa

A joint sitting of both Houses may be called by the presiding officers jointly or by the President, and is not a decision-making forum. A joint sitting is called for the following purposes: The President's State of the Nation address ; To enable a Head of a foreign State to address Parliament ; For occasional important joint debates ; In connection with the declaration of a state of national defense ; and for any other "special business".