Ramaphosa reflects on 2025, citing progress amid persistent challenges

President Cyril Ramaphosa says 2025 has been a mixed year of successes and unresolved challenges.

The President has released a public video message reflecting on the year that was.

He highlighted South Africa’s successful hosting of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, the easing of load shedding and the upgrading of the country’s sovereign credit rating as some of the year’s major achievements.

However, Ramaphosa said poor service delivery, crime and poverty continue to plague large sections of the country.

“It is a matter of concern that many South Africans are unemployed and that poverty and inequality persist. The high cost of living has imposed huge burdens on South African households.

Many communities live in fear of gangsters. Women and children live in fear of gender-based violence and femicide. The delivery of basic services in our cities, towns and villages is often disrupted or does not exist at all.”

The President said these are challenges the government will once again seek to resolve in the coming year.

“These are difficult and complex challenges faced by many of our people. I acknowledge these difficulties plainly and give assurance that your struggles are known and understood. We are continuing to take a variety of actions to address these challenges.”