Political parties represented in Parliament have called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to focus squarely on everyday challenges facing South Africans when he delivers the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday evening.
This year’s address will once again take place at Cape Town City Hall, which has hosted the annual event since a fire damaged parts of Parliament in January 2022.
Across the political spectrum, parties say the President must move beyond broad commitments and present clear plans to tackle unemployment, failing services, crime and economic stagnation.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), now the official opposition, wants Ramaphosa to demonstrate tangible results under the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Caretaker Chief Whip Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi said the party expects proof that the coalition government has made a practical difference in people’s lives.
“We want to know what has changed economically. Communities still have no water, electricity remains unstable, municipalities are collapsing and young people are locked out of the economy,” she said.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has placed emphasis on safety, particularly in rural areas, as well as the fight against gender-based violence and femicide.
Chief Whip Nhlanhla Hadebe said the party wants stronger border controls, improved policing and dedicated GBV units, alongside measures to reduce youth unemployment and support small businesses and small-scale farmers. He added that water security must also be prioritised.
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) echoed similar concerns, calling for accelerated job creation and safer communities.
MP Jasmine Petersen said the party expects the GNU’s promises to be backed by clear targets and accountability. “We want to see economic inclusion, employment opportunities and equitable development becoming a reality, not just rhetoric,” she said.
Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Dr Mmusi Maimane urged the President to address policing leadership and education reform. He called for stable management within the police service, more detectives to tackle crime, and greater investment in maths and science education to prepare young people for the economy. He also stressed the need for stronger economic growth, targeting between four and five percent annually.
Al Jama-ah said it hopes the President will reaffirm South Africa’s commitment to international solidarity and refugee protection, rooted in the country’s own anti-apartheid history.
MP Imraan Ismail-Moosa said government policy should align with international refugee law and avoid restrictive approaches.
Meanwhile, the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) wants land reform to top the national agenda.
Secretary General Apa Pooe said the party expects decisive action on land restoration, tenure security, industrialisation and youth development, alongside a firm stance against corruption and wasteful spending. “Economic freedom and justice cannot be delayed any longer,” he said.
With rising living costs, service delivery failures and persistent unemployment weighing heavily on households, expectations are high that this year’s SONA will offer more than ceremonial speeches and instead deliver concrete solutions to the country’s most pressing problems.