President Cyril Ramaphosa to deliver state of nation address under a cloud
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the state of the nation address (Sona) at the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday evening.
The annual address will enable Ramaphosa to speak on the general state of the nation and reflect on a wide range of political, economic and social matters in the domestic and global spheres, according to parliament.
The president is also expected to account for the work of the government and set out its programme of action during this joint sitting of parliament.
Ramaphosa is set to deliver the address under a cloud of low economic growth, persistent power cuts, railway logistics nightmares, violent crime, entrenched poverty, widening inequality, joblessness and poor service delivery.
Opposition party leaders, including EFF president Julius Malema, have been calling on Ramaphosa to announce the date for the 2024 general election. The ANC’s support could fall below 50%, according to several polls, including one by the ANC itself.
On Tuesday, DA leader John Steenhuisen is set to outline what his party said is a blueprint to “rescue” SA after the 2024 election. His address will focus on what the first 100 days of a new government will look like if his party gets the nod at the general elections. Steenhuisen will be joined by party leaders such as chief whip Siviwe Gwarube, head of policy Mat Cuthbert and national spokesperson Solly Malatsi.
The EFF is set to hold its election manifesto launch at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on February 10, followed by the DA in Pretoria on February 17.
The judicial conduct committee’s hearings on allegations of misconduct against judge Nana Makhubele, a former Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) board chair, are set to held in Sandton, Johannesburg, from Wednesday to Friday.
The tribunal was established in 2021 after #UniteBehind submitted a complaint against her in 2019, for continuing to chair the Prasa board after being appointed a high court judge.
The hearings have been delayed several times, most recently because of a dispute about Makhubele’s legal fees amounting to more than R3m, which is to be paid from the public purse.
The government is expected to participate in the 2024 Investing in African Mining Indaba at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from Monday to Friday. Mineral resources & energy minister Gwede Mantashe and Ramaphosa are expected to deliver the opening address and keynote speech, respectively.
Namibian president Hage Geingob died in the early hours of Sunday morning, succumbing to a battle with cancer.
The funeral arrangements have yet to be announced. Political developments in that country will be watched closely locally and in the region. Namibia is one of the steadiest democracies in the Southern African Development Community and on the continent.