SONA 2025: South Africans are resilient and will not be bullied, says Ramaphosa

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africans were resilient and wouldn’t be bullied as the country deals with diplomatic fallouts with Rwanda and the United States. 

Ramaphosa delivered his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday evening, where he addressed geopolitical issues affecting the country, like disinformation about the country’s laws on land expropriation.

He also said that the government’s most urgent task was to grow the economy, with plans to spend R900 billion on infrastructure over the next three years.

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The president, as many had expected, said that the focus was to prioritise the economy to address the stubborn unemployment rate, which sits at just over 33%.

Before Ramaphosa started his address, the chamber held a short moment of silence for the 14 soldiers killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

He also took the time to address attacks the country has faced from the leaders of Rwanda and the US, saying South Africans were too resilient to be bullied around.

On the economy, Ramaphosa again said that special attention needed to be given to SOEs like Eskom and Transnet.

In terms of special guests and dignitaries in attendance, former presidents, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe, could be seen in the public gallery. Former deputy president, David Mabuza, also made a rare appearance following his departure from public office last year.

While the debate into the speech only takes place next week, the MK Party is expected to respond to the address later on Thursday night.