President Cyril Ramaphosa. (@PresidencyZA/X)
news analysis
IIn his final State of the Nation Address (Sona) before the 2024 elections, President Cyril Ramaphosa gave a nearly two-hour speech in which he praised the government but did not acknowledge the lack of accountability in the executive branch.
The motif of democracy was consistent throughout the speech, as 2024 marks 30 years since the first democratic elections.
In a speech that appeared to be driven by electoral ambitions rather than addressing the challenges facing South Africans, the president said many of the country's problems would soon be resolved.
He spoke of the successes in the fight against state capture, including the recovery of R8.6 billion and the freezing of orders worth R14 billion given to the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) asset forfeiture division, ensuring the South African Revenue Service is in tip-top shape. He told me he was back. After years of being destroyed by state occupation.
He also said that the launch of the Investigative Directorate had been successful, with 200 people connected to the state capture case being prosecuted and many more being investigated.
However, more than two years after the Zondo Commission completed its first chapter on state capture, no convictions have been made.
The Zondo commission also released findings implicating members of Ramaphosa's cabinet, some of whom were sitting in the Sona audience, but no one has yet been held accountable. .
In an economy hit hard by austerity measures, the NPA and the Hawks have cut their budgets.
Governments must prioritize debt repayment, placing a huge cost burden on people who rely on state services. President Ramaphosa has announced that the much-needed R350 Social Distress Relief Grant will continue, but the South African Social Security Agency's subsidy delivery system is dismal and people are denied access to these much-needed payments. We are left waiting.
He went on to vow that his government would restore South Africa's crumbling ports and rail system (managed by Transnet) to “world-class standards”. He did not say where the government would find the R100-billion needed to resolve the issue to achieve the turnaround plan proposed by the Transnet board late last year.
Regarding the energy crisis, the President said that as a result of the government's plans, load shedding will soon become a thing of the past.
“I am confident that the worst is behind us and the end of load shedding is within reach,” Ramaphosa said.
Prime Minister Ramaphosa said the government would invest R240 billion in the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan to transition from coal to renewable energy. However, the announcement is underlined by the fact that South Africa's latest energy plans rely on a coal-led future.
Prime Minister Ramaphosa also vowed to improve service delivery and job creation, which have hurt his government.
Mr Ramaphosa spoke of the progress made by his government and the ANC-led government 30 years on since 1994, but millions of South Africans continue to bear the brunt of corruption and poor or lack of service delivery. Perhaps his speech will ring hollow.