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SONA 2024

Cyril must take a hike, shows readers’ poll, while alternative survey highlights president’s likeability

Despite the numerous challenges facing South Africa, including the cost of living, crime, corruption, and unemployment, President Ramaphosa remains the most positively regarded politician in the country, with a likeability rating significantly higher than his counterparts. His achievements include changes in regulations to allow municipalities to procure power independently, significant progress in HIV/AIDS treatment, increased conviction rates in the courts, and the creation of employment opportunities for millions of young and indigent people. However, there have also been notable failures, such as the worst-ever load shedding, rail logistics issues, and the ongoing struggle with unemployment and economic growth. The government's response to state capture cases and the lack of action on disciplining implicated party members remains a point of contention. Overall, there have been both hits and misses in Ramaphosa's tenure, depending on one's perspective.
Cyril must take a hike, shows readers’ poll, while alternative survey highlights president’s likeability Illustrative image | President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Photo: Gallo Images/Jeffrey Abrahams | Rawpixel)
Ferial Haffajee
By Ferial Haffajee
8 Feb 2024
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cyril survey

From your questions and comments in a Daily Maverick readers’ survey, it’s clear that the cost of living, crime, corruption and unemployment are taking a toll. The government doesn’t govern well and our national infrastructure collapses are visceral.

A separate baseline survey commissioned by one of the countries newest parties, Change Starts Now, and released this week, shows that Ramaphosa is still South Africa’s most positively regarded politician by a country mile.

Granted, his likeability has come down from the highs when he took office in 2018 to a positivity rating of 54% but that's still 24 percentage points higher than official opposition leader John Steenhuisen.  EFF leader Julius Malema has the second highest positivity rating but more people regarded him negatively.

survey

Suppose the ANC gets between 48% and 51% in the national election later this year – it will do so only because Ramaphosa has a much higher likeability factor than the governing party. On Wednesday, ahead of Sona, he was dancing to Tyla’s Grammy-winning hit, Water.

The Presidency has released a 24-page audit of what he has done well in the previous five years. Here are some of the hits, misses and claims of easy victories.

Hits

  • Regulations have been changed to allow municipalities to procure power independently.
  • 5,000 MW of rooftop solar has been installed – a factor in lower levels of load shedding (the Presidency attributes this to incentives for households and businesses).
  • 2,000 MW of solar and wind has been connected to the grid.
  • The lifting of the power production licensing cap means there is 12,000 MW expected over the short to medium term (it’s a lot).
  • HIV/Aids treatment has been successful – 79% of people living with Aids get treatment; HIV infections have declined substantively (73% fewer among adolescent males, 60% fewer among adolescent females).
  • Conviction rates are going up: 91% in the high court, 82% in regional courts, 95% in district courts, and there is a 95% conviction rate in femicide prosecutions.
  • For women who have been raped or abused, there are now eight Thuthuzela Care Centres, 83 sexual offender courts and 1,159 victim-friendly rooms at police stations.
  • Ramaphosa is now SA’s most significant employer – presidential employment schemes for young and indigent people put 2.7 million people into work opportunities (this could also fall under misses).
  • Government closed 60,000 illegal liquor outlets.
  • The criminal asset recovery fund took receipt of R5.4-billion in recovered and returned loot.
  • The Asset Forfeiture Unit has frozen assets to the value of R14-billion pending investigation and prosecution.
  • Government will fund 30,000 “missing middle” university students who fall outside the NSFAS household income limits.
  • Blue, Green and No Drop water reports were published for the first time since 2014.
  • Eskom finally has an independent National Transmission Company – necessary because grid expansion is urgently needed to get the 12,000 MW from power plants to homes and businesses.
  • The African Continental Free Trade Area is sailing.

Misses (not in the Presidency audit)

  • Load shedding was at its worst ever in 2023.
  • Rail logistics crashed as Transnet hit a wall.
  • Crime and organised crime hit new highs as mafia syndicates captured more ground.
  • Unemployment remained stubbornly high.
  • Consumer and business confidence tanked.
  • Interest rates are at the highest in years, while GDP growth is stagnant.
  • Critical skills lists and work visas for people the economy needs are stuck in inertia (the Presidency calls this a hit, but that is not true).
  • Not a single State Capture case has been successfully prosecuted, and the governing party is prevaricating on disciplining its cadres named by the Zondo Commission.
  • Has not made abuse of political office a criminal offence as recommended by the State Capture Commission.

Hits or misses (depending on where you stand)

  • Minimum wage introduced.
  • NHI patient registration installed at 3,200 facilities.
  • Just Transition Investment Plan – a multi-billion EU/US-funded programme to wean SA off coal – way off track as SA stakes its immediate energy future on old king coal.
  • R230-billion in infrastructure projects at various stages – we put it here because rollout is slow and often dogged by special interests. DM

Comments (10)

cijimpi.makhoba Feb 8, 2024, 10:32 AM

ANC Goverment has failled to implement and build SOUTH AFRICA to a DEMOCRATIC state that should almost have all the building blocks reflected on policies to drive DEMOCRACY. I guess ANC Goverment does not understand DEMOCRACY, Then what is it that they understand if not SOCIALISM that they are dismally failling at it as well. What is it that they UNDERSTAND????? In 2019 South Africans thought that Cyril understands business and to our dismay that he's just a Cader. In 2024 South Africans should vote based on realism of the past and current, political party that will not only exhibit democratic intent but policies & execution to the later. South Africa will never have almost if not full democratic state if we vote for one party for 30 years, we need to examine ourselves as well......!

Charlie Victor Feb 8, 2024, 11:06 AM

Careful what you wish for... You may well get it. The ANC will probably get less than 50%. They will have to form a coalition. The cadres will want to carry on looting freely so there obvious coalition partner will be the EFF. Which means CiC will at the very least, be VP

mf.vanderwalt Feb 8, 2024, 11:41 AM

I doubt DM is read by too many ANC/Ramaphosa supporters so the readers poll should not be taken to accurate for the country. Most of their supporters will not be too keen to read what is done wrong by their "Leaders".

Norman Ferris Feb 8, 2024, 12:08 PM

RAMAPHORIA HAS BEEN A GREATER MISS!

langeraadt@yahoo.com Feb 8, 2024, 12:15 PM

We'll be stuck with the anc for another term. I don't think SA's economy can survive this. In fact, it is probably irreversibly damaged already.

Hidden Name Feb 8, 2024, 04:10 PM

A minor quibble. You need to contrast the attitudes graph with the overall support of the part involved....the 30% for Steenhuisen, for example, is striking in the context of the DA's overall popularity and the rather negative media coverage he gets. In that context, Cyrils numbers look appaling.

Jan Vos Feb 8, 2024, 05:01 PM

“In a multi-racial society where power must eventually be transferred into the hands of the numerically stronger Bantu, not only Whites, but also Coloured and Indians will go under. Over time even the Bantu masses will not benefit because on the strength of what has happened elsewhere in Africa, it must be taken into consideration that South Africa will develop into an autocracy or dictatorship. On account of their lack of ability to manage complicated administration, the country will moreover administratively and economically be destroyed and everyone – White and Coloured – end in chaos.” Dr H.F. Verwoerd

ST ST Feb 10, 2024, 07:56 AM

No need to hide behind Verwoed. Speak your mind! Nonetheless…they occupied foreign lands, already with a modus operandi from wheth they came. Installed and developed complicated governance systems that benefited their own. Excluded the natives from those benefits and in the development of these complicated structures and systems. Ofcourse the natives couldn’t work the systems… they didn’t know how! They had a different way of life that brutally interrupted. Thus, Verwoed’s et al. was a self fulfilling prophecy guaranteed by the then regime and used to continue oppression. It did not and does not take away from the right of people to be freed and empowered. If the ‘Bantu’ were treated faulty they would not have rebelled. Wanting freedom and knowing how to run a country are two different things. Each legitimate. Continued ignorance of the black governments is also not excusable. But it’s wilful ignorance to divorce it from the foundations of colonialisation.

Rod MacLeod Feb 22, 2024, 11:42 AM

The USA was once a colony. Australia was a colony. New Zealand was a colony. Botswana was a colony. Canada was colonised. India was colonised. China was colonised. How come have they all done so well and the Afro ex-colonies not so well? And by the way, Liberia is still a basket case, even though it was never colonised - in fact, it was territory bought from surrounding African tribes to establish a free state for emancipated American slaves! I bet their descendants wish their ancestors had never left the USA!

Dietmar Horn Feb 11, 2024, 02:52 AM

Quoting an architect of apartheid to support legitimate criticism of the current government is not helpful. On the contrary, it plays into the hands of those who counter any criticism of a black government with the insinuation of racism and thus evade argumentation on the matter. There is no doubt that the cause of the ongoing division in society in SA lies in the system of the past and there is no doubt that the quote deepens the division. Is that the intention?

gilliancelliers Feb 9, 2024, 07:51 AM

Too slow. CR is a likeable fellow but the ANC are out of touch with the reality. That generation that can’t find work are our future in jeopardy- and a time bomb,

Steven M Feb 9, 2024, 08:55 AM

This low rating of the President says more about the political leanings of your readership than the performance of the President. The media want to bring him down but is there a serious, viable alternative? John Steenhuisen haha Julius Malema, really??

ST ST Feb 10, 2024, 07:55 AM

No need to hide behind Verwoed. Speak your mind! Nonetheless...they occupied foreign lands, already with a modus operandi from wheth they came. Installed and developed complicated governance systems that benefited their own. Excluded the natives from those benefits and in the development of these complicated structures and systems. Ofcourse the natives couldn't work the systems... they didn't know how! They had a different way of life that brutally interrupted. Thus, Verwoed's et al. was a self fulfilling prophecy guaranteed by the then regime and used to continue oppression. It did not and does not take away from the right of people to be freed and empowered. If the 'Bantu' were treated faulty they would not have rebelled. Wanting freedom and knowing how to run a country are two different things. Each legitimate. Continued ignorance of the black governments is also not excusable. But it's wilful ignorance to divorce it from the foundations of colonialisation.

Rod MacLeod Feb 22, 2024, 11:52 AM

Your inference that Verwoerd was a "coloniser" shows one of two things: either you do not understand the anthropological history of this country, or you are a racist who believes all white people are immigrants and need to be repatriated somewhere else. You have the right to choose whichever one it is you want to be.

Stephen Mcbride Mar 8, 2024, 08:11 PM

The "whites" in this country are part of the country in my opinion. But the are still the people who colonized the country and have impressed their world view on the people the colonized. But then the same with Shaka Zulu. But that is all in the past. Whilst we need to acknowledge all the advantages certain people have (not because the are better but because the have been given more) and build up the disadvantaged till the can compete on an even footing we cannot still think of them as colonizer but rather as people that do not realize they are advantaged and are not prepared to give up that gift given to them at the expense of other people and give them a hand up