SONA: Ramaphosa clearly does not know what we know

8 February 2024  

President Cyril Ramaphosa unequivocally demonstrated with his State of the Nation Address (SONA) that both he and the ANC government have totally lost touch with the reality of the problems faced by ordinary South Africans every day.

He apparently does not know what ordinary South Africans know.

One example is load shedding. Last year, the President promised that by the end of 2023 load shedding will be a thing of the past. There is still no sign of that, though. Maybe someone should tell him that this is 2024 already.

He painted a wonderful picture of job creation and prosperity. The reality, however, is that nearly 40% of all South Africans and more than 60% of the country's youth is unemployed.

In the past, he promised high-speed trains, smart cities and new dams. Nothing came of it.

He boasted about great achievements regarding infrastructure, crime-free environments and healthcare at state hospitals being so good that patients prefer to be treated there rather than at private hospitals.

Nothing can be further removed from reality. The FF Plus recently published a comprehensive report on the utter decline of state hospitals and the terrible conditions patients are subjected to. The HRC is busy investigating the matter.

The President, furthermore, boasted that state capture was brought to an end thanks to government. All while the ANC was the only party that vehemently defended former President Jacob Zuma and his cohorts in Parliament for more than ten years. And everyone knows that.

President Ramaphosa exploited the opportunity created by SONA 2024 in a desperate attempt to deliver an election speech. It, too, was a failure. He had nothing to boast about, except empty promises that never materialised and a country that does not exist in reality.

This tactic could easily backfire for government. The public is not stupid and they have bought into the ANC's lies for long enough.

They are desperate, starving and unemployed. They are plagued by load shedding every day and have to dodge potholes while witnessing hundreds of desperate people standing next to the road hoping to get a job, even if it is just for the day.

Their reality is totally different from the one that the President described and lauded tonight. There is no freedom in living like this.

In a year where general elections are held, there are two SONAs. One before and one after the elections. All right-minded South Africans ought to ensure that President Ramaphosa does not get to deliver the SONA after the elections.

Issued by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus leader, 8 February 2024