SA Government Spent R6.5 Million Organising SONA 2024, Mzansi Unimpressed: “Waste of Money”
- The National Assembly splurged R6.5 million to prepare for the State of the Nation Address
- The spokesperson revealed that the money was spent on logistical arrangements and other aspects of the event
- Stellenbosch University's Professor Amanda Gouws told Briefly News that he might use the platform to campaign for the ANC
- South Africans were dishearted by the amount of money used and slammed the government, accusing it of wasteful expenditure
Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist in Johannesburg, South Africa, has covered policy changes, the State Of the Nation Address, politician-related news, and Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News elections for over seven years.
Source: Getty Images
The government is pulling out all the stops, spending R6.5 million for the State of the Nation Address. National Assembly revealed that the money was utilised for logistics. This was an unacceptable reason and expenditure to South Africans.
R6.5 million spent on SONA
According to eNCA, National Assembly's spokesperson Masibulelo Xaso said this would be a big SONA because it falls on the 30th year of democracy. He said it was a significant event as it was the last SONA after the 6th parliament. He clarified that the rules introduced to prevent people from disturbing the president are revised. These rules were to take care of issues identified before.
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Stellenbosch University Professor speaks to Briefly News
Stellenbosch University's Professor of Political Science, Amanda Gouws, told Briefly News what she thought of the upcoming SONA.
"I am expecting him to deliver a SONA about the successes of the ANC (he will kill us with statistics about how many jobs were created, how many toilets have been built, etc) to inspire voters to vote for the ANC. Failures will be blamed on apartheid, his predecessor and corruption. Anything but bad governance."
South Africans were displeased at the expenditure
Netizens on Facebook were not pleased with how much parliament spends on the SONA.
Amanda Maas said:
"Total waste of money! They should be ashamed."
Lindelani Mthembu remarked:
"Ramaphosa must declare his presidency a disaster and resign immediately."
Vusumuzi Legacy Vee complained:
"How about they fix the potholes, and the president can livestream from his couch?"
Jeremy Jansen said:
"Just to hear those clowns scream and shout."
Chester Missing added:
"That's like two couches at Phala Phala."
Eskom and SOEs should be the focus of State of the Nation: Professor
In a SONA-related article, Briefly News reported that Stellenbosch University's professor Zwelinzima Ndlevu said the SONA should focus on state-owned enterprises and Eskom.
Ndlevu spoke to Briefly News and remarked that Ramaphosa must divulge plans for reconfiguring the government to reduce the number of departments.
South Africans did not care about the SONA and prayed for loadshedding for them to miss the SONA.
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Source: Briefly News
Tebogo Mokwena (Current Affairs editor) Tebogo Mokwena is a Current Affairs Editor at Briefly News. He has a Diploma in Journalism from ALISON. He joined Daily Sun, where he worked for 4 years covering politics, crime, entertainment, current affairs, policy, governance and art. He was also a sub-editor and journalist for Capricorn Post before joining Vutivi Business News in 2020, where he covered small business news policy and governance, analysis and profiles. He joined Briefly News in 2023. Tebogo passed a set of trainings by Google News Initiative Email: tebogo.mokwena@briefly.co.za
Amanda Gouws (Professor of Political Science at the University of Stellenbosch) Amanda Gouws holds a National Research Foundation Chair in Gender Politics. Her research focuses on women and citizenship, women’s movements and gender-based violence. Her books include Overcoming Political Intolerance in South Africa and (Un)Thinking Citizenship: Feminist Debates in Contemporary South Africa. Gouws’ latest book is Feminist Institutionalism in South Africa: Designing for Gender Equality. Gouws was a Commissioner for the South African Commission for Gender Equality (2012-2014).
