Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
09 February 2026

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s SONA 2026 is expected to face scrutiny as analysts warn South Africans are “tired of speeches and starving for delivery.” 📷

As South Africa prepares for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2026 later this week, political analyst says the country is “tired of speeches and starving for delivery”, with unemployment, weak growth and the rising cost of living dominating public frustration.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, Gqubule described President Cyril Ramaphosa’s term as “eight wasted years,” arguing that South Africans need an “unemotional debate” about the country’s direction since 2018.

“This will be the ninth State of the Nation Address by Cyril Ramaphosa,” he said. “And I think, frankly, it’s been eight wasted years.”

Gqubule believes SONA 2026 will be shaped by the upcoming local government elections, predicting the ANC will face another electoral decline. He pointed to recent losses in national support, saying the party has steadily lost voter confidence in successive elections.

He also criticised remarks by senior ANC leaders, saying the party has started the year by “insulting South Africans,” and questioned how it plans to rebuild trust ahead of the polls.

On the economy, Gqubule said South Africa’s average annual GDP growth under Ramaphosa has been just 0.6%, which he called the lowest since 1994. He warned that by the end of 2025, GDP per capita will be lower than it was in 2007, meaning living standards have declined for nearly two decades.

Unemployment, he said, remains the clearest sign of failure.

“We’ve got the second highest unemployment rate in the world – 42.4% unemployment, 12.5 million unemployed,” he said, adding there is “no plan in the GNU” to address the jobs crisis.

On electricity, Gqubule said households and businesses are still under pressure, not from load-shedding, but from unaffordable tariffs. He called for subsidies and for NERSA increases to be capped closer to inflation.

Looking ahead to the President’s address, Gqubule urged listeners to separate “spin from substance,” predicting government will again speak of “green shoots” without evidence.

“They must tell us honestly that we have failed to grow this economy and we have to change course,” he said.

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Duma Gqubule.