WATCH: State of the Nation Address 2025 by President Ramaphosa
For the first time in democratic South Africa, the SONA is being delivered under a Government of National Unity.
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril is delivering the State of the Nation Address under a coalition government after it failed to clinch a majority in the May 2024 general elections.
For the first time in democratic South Africa, the SONA is being delivered under a Government of National Unity.
Ramaphosa is tasked with addressing some of the country’s hot-button topics including unemployment, inequality and stark poverty.
Other contentious issues include the National Health Insurance and Expropriation Acts. The latter has since stoked the ire of US President Donald Trump, who believes certain pockets of South African society are being unfairly dispossessed of their private property.
This has created tension between the US and South Africa threatening the countries’ trade partnership.
Moreover, Ramaphosa has had to find common ground with his GNU partners to craft a speech that will reflect the formation’s statement of intent, while speaking to broad issues that affect the average South African citizen.