President Cyril Ramaphosa's SONA was marked, once again, by accolades for temporary government-driven job initiatives, which many argue are insufficient to alleviate the significant unemployment crisis facing the nation, according to the writer.
Image: GCIS / Phando Jikelo
President Ramaphosa’s SONA was to me, indubitably prodigious and well crafted. I mustsay his speech writers deserve laurels in this regard.
However, the 2026 SONA was notuplifting the aspirations of ordinary citizens of this country, but just the same old story. Itwas not something of an oddity, but characterised by the repetition of previous emptypromises, presented in a different grammatical format like a recitation.
I was extremely disappointed when the president said: “We are still far from where we need to be.” Really?
I mean Ramaphosa’s ANC led government has been in power for more than 30 years to date. This country was supposed to be adjacent to where it is supposed to be, notfar as claimed by Ramaphosa.
If the president is talking of being far from where we need tobe, then the question is: How many more years needed to get to that promised land?
The living conditions of many South Africans are appalling and deteriorating on daily basis.Seemingly, those in government are lacking some sense of populism, to represent and addressthe basic needs of people.
It is a blow that, there are many people who are still struggling toget basic services like water, after 30 years since the ANC took power.
Unemployment is stilla major challenge in this country and still, the president in his SONA was giving accolade togovernment driven temporary jobs like expanded programmes. Many young people areunemployed and staying at home with good qualifications.
They need sustainable and wellsecured jobs, that will enable them to achieve their long term aspirations like buying cars and houses. Salaries that they get from government’s expanded programmes is not adequate andbeneficial for them in this regard.
On the other hand, I must applaud the government when it comes to load shedding. There isunmistakably an immense breakthrough regarding load shedding. The government has donemarvellous job in this regard.
I have no doubt to say that the Minister of Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is a diligent and visionary minister. How I wish all ministers werelike him. The deployment of soldiers to fight against gang related crime and illegal mining isto me not a good move. This is a clear indication that, there is a shortage of police officers inour country and the current police force is not fully resourced.
Soldiers are not trained to deal with crime but war. There are people who are still going through traumatic experience, they endured from soldiers who were deployed in some areas during the Covid 19 period. We cannot afford to see the repeat of such unbecoming and terrifying actions of soldiers towardsinnocent people.
Recruit and train more police officers to fight crime and reserve soldiers fora possible war.Many of our roads are quite perilous because of potholes. Our health facilities are disgustingand shameful with serious shortage of nurses and doctors.
Many young people including learners are destroyed by alcohol and drugs, nyaope is the quintessence is this case.
Shockingly, the president would never talk about nyaope in any of his SONA. Even theprevious presidents were so silent on nyaope, the evil destroyer of our future generation.
Regardless of how good the content of SONA may be, the people of South Africa need actionfrom the government, for their bad living conditions to change.
Rev Maudu MoruduTemba, HAMMANSKRAAL