Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2-minute read
11 February 2024 | 19:18 CAT

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa looks on during the 2023 state-of-the-nation address (SONA) at the Cape Town City Hall in Cape Town on February 9, 2023. (Photo by ESA ALEXANDER / POOL / AFP)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday night delivered his sixth annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Cape Town’s City Hall, taking a nostalgic approach to the event as part of commemorating 30 years of democracy, as well as addressing what is likely to be the most highly-contested general election the country has seen since democratic rule.

The occasion attracted intense scrutiny from opposition political parties, analysts, and commentators alike as the country seeks to steer through severe socioeconomic and political challenges.

Many of the president’s promises from the 2022 and 2023 Sona remained unfulfilled. Earlier in the day, the presidency announced that Ramaphosa would announce the 2024 election date in 15 days despite many believing the president would announce it on Thursday night.

The ANC is facing the most realistic challenge to its rule since South Africa became a democracy in 1994, with recent polls indicating that the party may retain less than 40% of the public vote in the elections set to take place sometime this year.

Meanwhile, the President was adamant that the government is progressing in addressing state capture and corruption. However, several of his ministers attending the SONA live under a cloud of corruption allegations.

“Corruption is one of the biggest elephants hovering over the current ruling party, whether it has to do with party politics or bigger issues within the state,” says political analyst Dr Hlengwe Ndlovu.

Dr Ndlovu pointed out that implementing the step-aside policy has yet to materialise in terms of seeing particular individuals punished for their corruption.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany.