SONA 2024: Cyril Ramaphosa’s Speech Didn’t Resonate With People on the Ground - Stellenbosch Prof

• President Cyril Ramaphosa's SONA speech did not connect with the average person and left a lot to be desired
• This is according to Stellenbosch University's Director of the School of Public Leadership, Professor Zwelinzima Ndevu
• In an exclusive interview with Briefly News, Ndevu shared his perspective on the State of the Nation Address and where he thought Ramaphosa was wrong and right

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 elections at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News for over seven years.

President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address took place in the notable absence of the Economic Freedom Fighters, who were suspended from Parliament for the event.

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According to Professor Zwelinzima Ndevu, Stellenbosch University's Director of the School of Public Leadership, another thing that was notably absent from the speech was Ramaphosa's relationship with the man on the ground.

Ramaphosa's SONA address, according to Ndevu

Speaking to Briefly News, Ndevu said he expected the president to paint a glorious picture of things getting better. However, the ordinary person doesn't feel any improvement in their daily lives.

"He said he reduced crime and worked hard. The person living in Nyanga deals with daily crime, which does not bring hope to the populace. For the ordinary man, the crime stats, for example, are a drop in the ocean."

Ndevu on State Capture

Ndevu also told Briefly News that he had hoped Ramaphosa would clarify state capture more. In his speech, Ramaphosa stated that the government has been making inroads in investigating state capture.

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"He is not a miracle worker, but I would have expected him to handle some issues expediently, like state capture. I have not heard of anyone wearing an orange overall, and I don't think we've done enough as some of the cases need not take long," he added.

We still have loadshedding

Ndevu also noted to Briefly News that not much has changed regarding loadshedding.

"Ramaphosa reassured us once again that loadshedding would be resolved soon, and he mentioned that the private sector would invest. However, he said the same thing last year. One cannot be faulted to think that we are in the same place we were in last year when he delivered his speech."

What you need to know about SONA 2024

• The National Assembly revealed that new laws have been put in place to ensure that no political party disturbs Ramaphosa's speech
• This came after EFF members were suspended for disrupting Ramaphosa in 2023
• Ramaphosa also said that employment has improved in the past three decades

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South Africans accuse Ramaphosa of lying

In a similar article, Briefly News reported that South Africans slammed Ramaphosa and accused him of lying.

Ramaphosa said that progress was made in the government and that government made inroads in rooting out state capture and improving employment.

South Africans roasted him and pointed out how often they thought he was lying.

Source: Briefly News