Each year the President of the Republic of South Africa delivers the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the official opening of Parliament. In the recent past, South Africans have become accustomed to the event – with its exuberant glitz and glamour, fanfare and political grandstanding – while millions remain trapped in poverty and joblessness.
Ideally, the SONA ought to strike a delicate balance between taking stock of where we find ourselves as a nation and providing leadership and guidance as to where we are headed in the coming years. Sadly, this has hardly been the case.
Since 2018, President Ramaphosa has made many commitments, promises, and signals of intent. However, when you run the numbers, he has fallen short of the vast majority.
Build One South Africa (BOSA) has identified ten of the most glaring broken promises that expose the President’s failure to deliver over the past years.
1. Eskom’s Unbundling: A Never-Ending Process
What Ramaphosa Promised:
“Eskom is on course to complete its unbundling process by December 2022.” (2022 SONA)
The Reality:
- As of 2024, only a separate transmission subsidiary has been established, while the generation and distribution divisions remain unstructured.
- The unbundling was first announced in 2019, yet after five years, only one-third of the process has materialized.
- In 2023, Ramaphosa provided no timeline for full unbundling, merely stating that it was “proceeding.”
2. The Social Compact That Never Was
What Ramaphosa Promised:
“Within 100 days, we will finalize a comprehensive social compact to grow our economy, create jobs, and combat hunger.” (2022 SONA)
The Reality:
- Two years later, the social compact remains nonexistent despite being redrafted 11 times.
- Efforts to secure an agreement at the annual Nedlac conferences have failed.
- In his 2023 SONA, Ramaphosa admitted that no consensus was reached, blaming new circumstances.
3. Digital Migration: The Endless Delay
What Ramaphosa Promised:
“Most of the country will transition to digital signals by the end of March 2022.” (2022 SONA)
“During the course of this year, we will migrate the remaining households to digital television signals and complete the switch-off of analogue transmission.” (2023 SONA)
The Reality:
- The transition deadline was repeatedly pushed back.
- The final analogue switch-off was extended to December 2024, making South Africa one of the few countries still not fully digital, almost a decade after the original international deadline.
4. Red Tape Reduction: Bureaucracy Remains a Major Obstacle
What Ramaphosa Promised:
“We have appointed a red tape reduction team in the Presidency to ensure government departments pay suppliers within 30 days and streamline business processes.” (2022 SONA)
The Reality:
- Despite multiple commitments, businesses continue to face extreme delays in obtaining permits, registering property, and engaging with government.
- In 2023, Ramaphosa claimed the red tape team was making progress, yet business leaders report no tangible improvements.
- Small businesses remain stifled by excessive bureaucracy, further delaying economic growth and investment.
5. Cooking the Employment Numbers
What Ramaphosa said (2024 SONA):
“The number of South Africans who are in employment has increased from 8 million in 1994… to 16.7 million today.”
The Reality:
- The actual employment figure in 1994 was 8.9 million, not 8 million.
- By understating past employment, Ramaphosa exaggerated progress.
- The employment rate has remained stagnant at 41%, meaning the percentage of unemployed people is the same as in 1994.
6. “Our Economy is Thriving” – But Is It?
What Ramaphosa said (2024 SONA):
“Our economy today is three times larger than what it was 30 years ago.”
The Reality:
- The nominal GDP (not adjusted for inflation) has increased 2.6 times, but real GDP (adjusted for inflation) has only grown 1.9 times.
- This exaggerates South Africa’s economic growth and ignores sluggish GDP performance over the last decade.
7. The Internet Access Illusion
What Ramaphosa said (2024 SONA):
“Less than half of all households had internet access in 2011, compared to 79% of households in 2022.”
The Reality:
- The actual internet access figure for 2022 was 75.3%, not 79%.
- Only 13% of South African households have internet at home, meaning most rely on unreliable public access points like workplaces, Wi-Fi hotspots, or internet cafés.
8. Digital Migration Delay
What Ramaphosa Promised (2023 SONA):
“During the course of this year [2023], we will migrate the remaining households to digital television signals and complete the switch-off of analogue transmission.”
The Reality:
- The government failed to meet this deadline, opting instead for a two-stage approach.
- Only analogue services above 694 MHz were switched off in July 2023, while services below this frequency are now scheduled for switch-off by December 2024.
- South Africa remains behind many other nations in digital migration despite repeated promises.
9. Port Partnerships That Never Materialized
What Ramaphosa Promised (2023 SONA):
“Transnet and private sector companies will conclude partnerships at the Durban and Ngqura container terminals to enable new investments in our ports.”
The Reality:
- No such partnerships were finalized by the end of 2023.
- South Africa’s ports remain inefficient, with delays and congestion plaguing key terminals.
- Private sector investment remains minimal, contributing to ongoing logistical challenges and economic losses.
10. Infrastructure Deadlines Missed
What Ramaphosa Promised (2023 SONA):
“The construction of Msikaba Bridge and Mtentu Bridge will be finished and make travel in the Eastern Cape much better.”
The Reality:
- Neither bridge was completed in 2023.
- The Msikaba Bridge is now expected to be completed in April 2025, missing the original deadline.
- The Mtentu Bridge has been delayed indefinitely due to contractor withdrawals and community protests.
Ramaphosa has spent years making grand promises, yet South Africa continues to face power cuts, economic stagnation, and infrastructure delays. As he prepares to address the nation again, South Africans deserve more than recycled rhetoric—they deserve real leadership and accountability.
Media Statement by
Roger Solomons: BOSA Acting Spokesperson
Monday 03 February 2025
Media Enquiries:
Roger Solomons – BOSA Acting Spokesperson – 072 299 3551