Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum are set to debate President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) during a two-day session this week.
The debate will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the president scheduled to deliver his reply in the Parliament of South Africa on Thursday.
In his address, Ramaphosa said the country was beginning to turn a corner on economic recovery, expressing confidence that growth prospects were improving. He committed the government to continued public spending on infrastructure projects aimed at stimulating the economy and creating jobs.
The president also announced that the South African National Defence Force would be deployed to parts of Western Cape and Gauteng to help curb gang-related violence and stabilise affected communities.
Lawmakers are expected to scrutinise the feasibility of these plans, with opposition parties likely to question timelines and implementation, while governing party MPs defend the proposals.
The debate is anticipated to set the tone for the government’s legislative and policy priorities for the year ahead where speeches meet spreadsheets, and promises meet Parliament.