SONA FORUM 2024

On 7 February, the Democracy Development Programme hosted its first forum of the year ahead of the 2024 SONA Forum, which is set to take place on 8 February. The theme for the forum was Unpacking the Budget Speech of 2023 and its implications on SONA.

The State of the Nation Address (SONA) is an annual address to the nation by the President of South Africa as the Head of State. It is usually delivered in a joint sitting of Parliament – customarily at the beginning of an annual session. The President sets out the government’s key policy objectives and deliverables for the year ahead. It highlights the achievements and challenges experienced over the past year and maps the year ahead and beyond. It covers wide-ranging political, economic, and social matters and considers the general state of South Africa. It deliberates on South Africa’s domestic affairs and its continental and international relations. Political parties can then debate, comment, and raise questions on matters addressed in the President’s speech.

Given that 2024 is an election year, South Africa will be subject to not one but two SONAs, with a second national address to be delivered by the next president of the country after the national vote. Because of this setup, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address on 8 February is likely to be dominated by the president taking stock of the work his administration has done over the last five years, leaving the announcement of new initiatives and measures to tackle South Africa’s various crises to the second speech later in the year. As with the previous SONAs, analysts anticipate inflated successes and empty promises from the president – with a mix of subtle election campaigning for the ANC. However, there are key topics that are likely to stick out:

• Election date;
• Income grants;
• Energy and rail crises;
• Healthcare reform;
• Government overhaul.

During DDP’s SONA Forum, Prof Bheki Mngomezulu unpacked the political mood of the South African state, taking into consideration the launch of new political parties, the ANC’s January 8^th Statement and various manifesto launches. This was followed by a discussion led by Dr Lubna Nadvi who examined the 2023 SONA and forecasted the 2024 SONA and South Africa’s role in the international sphere. Both sessions served as a segway for the audience to discuss their perspectives and views on the scorecard for the 6^th administration. This year’s address comes with great anticipation but undergirded with apathy, with many audience members critical of the action necessary to implement the government’s key policies.

To watch the full discussion, click here.

Thank you to the Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung South Africa for the partnership and support.