--- title: "Civil society’s sobering Sona scorecard, and how the ‘Codesa Compromise’ spat out Steenhuisen" description: "Civil society criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Sona promises, highlighting a lack of funding and reform crucial to uplifting South Africa’s vulnerable communities." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "THE WEEKEND WRAP" author: "Daily Maverick" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/dailymaverick/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-14-civil-societys-sobering-sona-scorecard-ad-and-how-the-codesa-compromise-spat-out/" published: "2026-02-14T07:00:00" updated: "2026-02-14T00:00:00" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 639 --- # Civil society’s sobering Sona scorecard, and how the ‘Codesa Compromise’ spat out Steenhuisen > Civil society criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Sona promises, highlighting a lack of funding and reform crucial to uplifting South Africa’s vulnerable communities. By Daily Maverick · Published 14 February 2026, 09:00 SAST · Updated 14 February 2026, 02:00 SAST ## Key points - Advocacy groups highlight the disconnection between Ramaphosa's ambitious promises on water, jobs, and education and the actual support needed. - Analysis of John Steenhuisen’s recent departure from the DA reveals the influence of historical political compromises shaping South African politics. - A change of minister has brought a sudden return to trophy export quotas for endangered black rhinos, elephants and leopards. ## Content ### **[Rhetoric vs reality: civil society delivers sobering scorecard on Sona 2026](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-13-rhetoric-vs-reality-civil-society-delivers-sobering-scorecard-on-sona-2026/)** ![Lerato-SONAReactions-CivilSociety](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/7-BoLFoys0WXBl0px9ordDDjNrg=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/Water_outage_62a_400133.jpg) *A man waits for water in Johannesburg. February 11, 2026. (Photo: OUR CITY NEWS / James Oatway)* ***By Lerato Mutsila.***Beyond the glitz of the red carpet, advocacy groups warn that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ambitious promises on water, jobs, and education lack the actionable funding and structural reform needed to reach South Africa’s most vulnerable. [Read more](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-13-rhetoric-vs-reality-civil-society-delivers-sobering-scorecard-on-sona-2026/) ### [The toll of gun violence: What I see at the coalface](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-02-10-the-toll-of-gun-violence-what-i-see-at-the-coalface/) ![NalediM-Joburg-Crime](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/EDfGEFx91NACc0rjmaveudtRzJ8=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/NalediM-Joburg-Crime_297330.jpg) *A forensic team at the crime scene where a suspect was shot and killed by police officers on August 24, 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The man who was shot was wanted for killing a police officer at the weekend. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Antonio Muchave)* ***By Sithombo Maqungo.***The grandmother who died from a gunshot wound that she did not sustain. The medics who quit working in a war zone that they never signed up for. The ripple effect and loss of gun violence. [Read more](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-02-10-the-toll-of-gun-violence-what-i-see-at-the-coalface/) ### [The Codesa Compromise has spat out John Steenhuisen and will move on relentlessly](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-02-09-the-codesa-compromise-has-spat-out-john-at-out-john-steenhuisen-and-will-move-on/) ![John Steenhuisen. (Photo: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/9IQfMbP8XN0YLocVXaYJO9tYZBc=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/ED_562820_416690.jpg) *John Steenhuisen. (Photo: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images)* ***By Ismail Lagardien.***John Steenhuisen’s departure from the Democratic Alliance reflects larger historical forces, particularly the ‘Codesa Compromise’, overshadowing individual personalities in South African politics. [Read more](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-02-09-the-codesa-compromise-has-spat-out-john-at-out-john-steenhuisen-and-will-move-on/) ### [Dirty politics, ‘rogue unit’ suspicions — the case of convicted ex-Crime Intelligence officer Paul Scheepers](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-08-dirty-politics-rogue-unit-suspicions-the-case-of-convicted-excrime-intelligence/) ![scheepers-guilty-caryn](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/pOAEBroQn78Oy2LtMRWlvevqa0E=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/scheepers-guilty-caryn1_770052.jpeg) *Former crime intelligence police officer Paul Scheepers. (Photo: Jaco Marais / Netwerk24)* ***By Caryn Dolley.***The recent conviction of former Crime Intelligence officer Paul Scheepers for fraud, money laundering and contravening surveillance and private security legislation now brings into question the motives and veracity behind his previous work. The case also edges close to other ‘rogue unit’ accusations. [Read more](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-08-dirty-politics-rogue-unit-suspicions-the-case-of-convicted-excrime-intelligence/) ### [Desperate measures — Joburg residents pushed to the brink after days and even weeks without water](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-10-desperate-measures-joburg-residents-pus-pushed-to-the-brink-after-days-and-even/) ![OCN-protest-essay](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/P97O0WplrtUCqwRmp5OiYjZQBIM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/WaterJoburg_33_454572.jpg) *Residents of Brixton collect water from a water truck, in Brixton, Johannesburg. February 8, 2026. (Photo: OUR CITY NEWS / Ihsaan Haffejee)* ***By Yvonne Grimbeek.***Melville: 23 days without water. Brixton: 14 days without water. Parktown West: 21 days without water. Vrededorp: 12 days without water. Mayfair: 10 days without water. Greenside: 11 days without water. Parkview: 11 days without water. Emmarentia: 8 days without water. [Read more](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-10-desperate-measures-joburg-residents-pus-pushed-to-the-brink-after-days-and-even/) ### [New wildlife quotas reopen fault lines over hunting, science and governance](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-11-new-wildlife-quotas-reopen-fault-lines-over-hunting-science-and-governance) ![ME-Tiara-AucampKrugerFund](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/kff3zwa9pHAosIOLfFzt8pFk_pE=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/Krugermediaconferencefinal_783415.jpg) *Left to right: SANParks CEO Hapiloe Sello, Minister Willie Aucamp and SANParks board member Beryl Ferguson address the media at Parliament, Cape Town about the floods in Kruger National Park, 22 January 2026. (Photo: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment)* ***By Don Pinnock.*** A change of minister has brought a sudden return to trophy export quotas for endangered black rhinos, elephants and leopards, prompting sharp criticism from former minister Dion George and renewed scrutiny of how hunting decisions are made – and for whose benefit. [Read more](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-11-new-wildlife-quotas-reopen-fault-lines-over-hunting-science-and-governance) ### [The Spell explores the dark legacies of Western civilisation and the stories that shaped them](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-09-the-spell-explores-the-dark-legacies-of-of-western-civilisation-and-the-stories/) ![the-spell-book](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/cQluJJ0wYt_YOrGT53Upa08l3qs=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/kristen-book_390281.jpg) *The Spell by David Buckham and Robyn Wilkinson is published by Burnet Media. (Image: Burnet Media)* ***By Deborah Rudman.***What’s the connection between Nietzsche and the Nazis? Are we still feeling the consequences of World War 2? And whatever happened to Covid-19? [Read more](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-09-the-spell-explores-the-dark-legacies-of-of-western-civilisation-and-the-stories/) ### [Traces of the Timeless — Creating space for complexity through art](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-10-traces-of-the-timeless-creating-space-for-complexity-through-art/) ![traces-of-timeless-owanto](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/Ch6EaxgwicNZ5Z7T-QKtHqwFxZo=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/Owantoatherstudio_CourtesyofOwantoStudio_108692.jpg) *Owanto at her studio. (Photo: Courtesy of Owanto Studio)* ***By Kristen Harding.***Exploring themes of time and interconnectedness, Owanto’s Traces of the Timeless invites viewers to engage with vivid, layered works at the 2026 Investec Cape Town Art Fair. [Read more](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-10-traces-of-the-timeless-creating-space-for-complexity-through-art/) ### [Bamboo is trending, but is it a superfood or a superfad?](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-13-bamboo-is-trending-but-is-it-a-superfood-or-a-superfad/) ![Conversation_bamboo](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/9dBvv6cGcCA0rxiHXVqSHp2omvg=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/iStock-1483216043_575039.jpg) *Ajitsuke Menma Pickled Bamboo Shoots. (Photo: iStock)* ***By Lee Smith and Robert MacKinnon.***Bamboo shoots are emerging as a potential superfood, offering fibre, cholesterol-lowering and anti-inflammatory benefits – but only if properly prepared, as poor handling can pose real health risks. [Read more](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-13-bamboo-is-trending-but-is-it-a-superfood-or-a-superfad/)