Mixed reaction to SONA 2024

Several political representatives, that were present at SONA, both condoned and condemned some of the President’s announcements on Thursday night.

As predicted by political analysts, the State of the Nation Address (SONA) highlighted the victories of the ANC in the past 30 years – and promised decisive action in dealing with the area in which the ruling party has failed.

President Cyril Ramaphosa took the podium at the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday, where he spoke of the impact of state capture, loadshedding, youth unemployment, the bleak freight and rail industry and the climate change crisis in South Africa, among other things. Several political representatives, that were present at SONA, condoned or condemned some of the President’s announcements.

Economics

The GOOD party described the SONA as having no “coherent economic plan”. The party’s post-SONA statement specifically noted that affordable housing, in areas close to economic opportunities, remain an issue. It further noted that the country should have made better recovery after the global economic crisis in 2007/8, like others have. GOOD did, however, welcome in the introduction of Basic Income Grant and the move to develop a sustainable/green economy.

Healthcare

The president noted government’s effort to improve the quality and equality of healthcare in the country. He added the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill was formed to provide free health care for all South Africans, whether in public or private health facilities. Ramaphosa says he received the bill, and all that’s left to do is sign it.

Post-SONA, Health Minister, Joe Phaahla, said he is confident that the president will sign the bill before the end of the sixth administration. Phaahla added that the implementation of the bill will not require new or additional funding, but rather the re-organisation of existing funds.

Israel/Hamas War

Toward the end of the State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated the country’s call for a two-state solution to end the ongoing Israel/Palestine war. After South Africa challenged Israel, before the International Court of Justice, for its genocidal acts on the people of Palestine. The court ruled that Israel put an end to any acts of genocidal intent. Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, however, says she is not surprised that Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, dismissed the court’s suggestions.

Unemployment

The Freedom Front Plus party’s Pieter Groeneweld says the president’s mention of all the business and job opportunities available to South African youth does not correlate with the rate of unemployment. The youth unemployment figure (in StatsSA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey for quarter three of 2023) stood at 43,4%. That figure is 11,5% higher than the country’s overall unemployment rate, for the same reporting period. Groeneweld says Ramaphosa is out of touch with reality.

ALSO READ: SONA: Nothing about gang crime and passenger rail

The DA’s John Steenhuisen says Thursday’s SONA is not that citizens should be concerned about, he says “the SONA we should be concerned and looking forward to, is the one that’s going to be delivered in a next few weeks, after the election”.

Written by Danielle Mentoor and Caitlin Maledo