Ramaphosa address — MK, EFF, ActionSA disappointed, but some GNU partners optimistic

The State of the Nation Address (Sona) 2025 went surprisingly smoothly with all parties represented in Parliament present. There were no significant disruptions of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s first such speech under the Government of National Unity (GNU). 

Ramaphosa made strong statements about investing in the future of South Africa and standing up to bullies on the global stage.

However, not every party came away convinced that Ramaphosa’s lofty promises would be fulfilled. 

‘Hugely disappointing, uninspiring and hollow’ 

Deputy president of the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party John Hlophe, and the leader of the opposition, said Ramaphosa’s address was “hugely disappointing, uninspiring and hollow”.

“One can highlight a few things that emanated from the speech. The President ... spoke with reference to borrowing money, he’s speaking about billions of rands. He doesn’t tell us, however, where money is going to be borrowed from. The devil is in the details,” he said. 

Hlophe said Ramaphosa should have spoken about investment in rural infrastructure development.

“Ramaphosa also spoke about this ideal notion of a united South Africa, united in diversity... We all know that’s not happening because nothing has been done to address racism in this country,” he claimed.

Veteran politician and ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said he was very disappointed in Ramaphosa’s speech. 

“I said this morning this would be the acid test of how much influence the GNU has in this government and I can just say this was vintage Ramaphosa – nothing has changed”.

EFF leader Julius Malema criticised the address, saying that Ramaphosa had failed to provide accountability on previous Sona commitments. 

“Well, there is no plan,” he told journalists minutes after the speech. 

“There is no accountability whatsoever. He says they will create jobs, but he uses this platform to come and waffle. He says he will create jobs, but doesn’t explain where and how. He mentions infrastructure development, with a lot of money allocated, but where and how? It looks like there’s no plan, just utterances.”

On the other hand, Freedom Front Plus parliamentary leader Dr Corné Mulder described it as a “missed opportunity” as this was the first time the President had presented a GNU Sona. 

“I hoped to hear a message from the President of a government of national unity which infuses the people, that gives hope, that gives inspiration, that is prepared to give a different stance and I said we are either going to hear that or we’re going to hear a speech by the president of the ANC, and unfortunately it was the latter,” he said.

Mulder said the speech contained some things from the past – including new funds and projects being launched and new white papers. This, he said, did not reflect or materialise what was happening in people’s lives.

“So that was quite frustrating,” he said.

‘Perfect diagnosis’ 

Meanwhile, DA leader and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said President Ramaphosa “diagnosed the problems absolutely perfectly” in his speech. 

“It’s about growth and jobs. That is why we’re [the DA] in the GNU. That’s why we joined, and that’s why I’m very proud to lead a party of ministers that are precisely doing this in their portfolios. I’m very proud to hear some of their achievements and some of their plans outlined by the President this evening,” said Steenhuisen.

In his Sona, the President highlighted, among other matters, the digitisation gains made by Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber (DA) and the success of Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube’s (DA) matric class of 2024 – which achieved the highest pass rate yet in SA.  

Read more: President Ramaphosa’s 2025 State of the Nation Address

Schreiber and his team had cleared most of the visa application backlog, Ramaphosa said, and this year the visa application process would be fully digitised and would use artificial intelligence “to reduce the scope for corruption and enable rapid turnaround times for tourist visas”.

“We have cleared over 90% of the backlog of more than 300,000 visa applications. These changes send a strong message that South Africa is open for business and tourism. We want a nation in which prosperity and opportunity is shared by all,” Ramaphosa said. 

Steenhuisen said the DA welcomed the expenditure on infrastructure, as well as the commitments made to early childhood development. 

However, the DA leader said Ramaphosa’s speech lacked urgency. 

“The President could’ve stressed the urgency a bit more. Our GNU has only got four years now to be able to go before the people of SA and say: this is what we’ve achieved… We can’t be sitting in the 2029 election — going into an election — with some of these projects still languishing on the drawing board. So I think that now we’re going to have to unpack how we take all of these things and move them with speed and urgency… And the DA stands ready to use our portfolios … to be able to drive the urgency on these particular issues…” Steenhuisen told journalists on the Grand Parade. 

‘Ramaphosa’s strongest Sona’ 

A statement by GNU partner Rise Mzansi called Ramaphosa’s speech “probably Ramaphosa’s strongest Sona”, but said “proof will be in the budget and implementation”.

“Although outside of the executive, Rise Mzansi welcomes the inclusion of some of our proposals around independent train operators and prioritising water infrastructure at scale. What we have also long spoken about is the need for the government to also protect and incentivise whistle-blowers. The announcement on legislation in this regard is therefore welcome,” said Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi. 

Speaking on the various anti-corruption pronouncements – including new announcements on legislated whistle-blower protections, Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana told Daily Maverick, “The Bill must be introduced as soon as possible”.

Read more: Whistle-blowers need support and solidarity; they should not be recognised only in death

Zibi said in his statement that Ramaphosa “struck a strong note in his reflection on the misinformation campaign launched on South Africa by agent provocateurs who are hellbent on sowing division across race and class”. 

“This is important, not just important in the local context and for nation-building, but it also sets the tone for the country’s G20 presidency. As South Africa, we must stay true to and elevate our constitutional and human rights values. He asserted South Africa’s sovereignty and national pride,” he said.

In his Sona, Ramaphosa defiantly stated South Africa “will not be bullied” by threats from the United States. He reiterated South Africa’s support for diversity and gendered diversity, saying SA stands for “equal rights for women, for persons with disability and for members of the LGBTQI+ community”.

This was in response to attacks on the country by US President Donald Trump on Sunday, 2 February, and by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, who said he would not attend the G20 Summit in November.  

Read more: The G20 goes ahead, says government, as Rubio announces a US boycott

Good party secretary-general Brett Herron echoed Zibi’s comments, saying: “There was much in the President’s speech that was good, but the proof of the pudding will be in the implementation and delivery.”

Herron said the party welcomed Ramaphosa’s statements on foreign policy, “and recommitting our nation, united in its diversity, to universal human rights. 

“He is correct that South Africa has lessons to teach the world about cooperative problem-solving and nation building. His steady and diplomatic tone in the face of US provocation was commendable, as was his recommitment to peace for Ukrainians and Palestinians,” he said.

Nomvula Mokonyane, the first deputy secretary general of the ANC, said the President’s statement had been promising, reaffirming the party’s commitment to inclusive economic growth with jobs as a priority.  

Ramaphosa announced that the government would allocate more than R940-billion towards infrastructure over the next three years, including R375-billion to be spent by state-owned companies. 

“This funding will revitalise our roads and bridges, build dams and waterways, modernise our ports and airports and power our economy,” he said.

Mokonyane praised the Ramaphosa for highlighting infrastructure as a crucial area offering numerous job opportunities, as well as for calling for a national dialogue, particularly as he manoeuvres in what appears to be a fragile Government of National Unity. DM

Additional reporting by Tamsin Metelerkamp, Suné Payne and Nonkululeko Njilo.