When President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on the evening of 12 February 2026, the setting will once again carry deep constitutional and historical symbolism.
Parliament is set to convene a joint sitting of the two Houses at the Cape Town City Hall – the same venue, where former President, Tata Nelson Mandela, first addressed South Africans on 11 February 1990, hours after his release from prison.
Scheduled for 19:00, the address is designed to reach millions of South Africans at home, underscoring its role as one of the most significant moments on the national political calendar.
More than ceremonial, SONA remains a constitutional event called in terms of Section 42(5) of the Constitution. It is one of the rare occasions that brings together the executive, legislature and judiciary under one roof, affirming Parliament’s central role in holding government to account.
A Moment of Accountability and Direction
SONA provides the President with an opportunity to reflect on the state of the nation across political, economic and social fronts – both domestically and within a shifting global context. It is also a moment of accountability, where the Head of State reports to citizens on government’s performance and sets out the programme of action for the year ahead.
Crucially, the address has direct budgetary implications. Following the SONA, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will deliver his Budget Speech in Parliament, on the heels of which, departments will follow suit.
Parliament, which is constitutionally mandated to exercise oversight over public finances, may accept, amend or reject departmental budgets to ensure alignment with the priorities announced by the President.
In the days following the address, Members of Parliament will debate SONA over two days, before President Ramaphosa replies and closes the debate.
Against this backdrop, SONA 2026 arrives at a pivotal juncture for the seventh Administration – nearly a year after Cabinet adopted the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2024–2029 as the blueprint guiding government’s work.
Measuring Progress Under the 7th Administration
Government’s own assessment of MTDP implementation paints a picture of cautious progress, mixed with persistent structural challenges.
Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, said during a recent briefing on the Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of the Medium-Term Development Plan 2024 – 2029 on 23 January 2026, that the MTDP provides a whole-of-government framework which aligns planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation across all spheres of government.
The plan is anchored by three interrelated and interlinked strategic priorities, as informed by the Government of National Unity (GNU)’s Statement of Intent (SOI), NDP Vision 2030, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the African Union (AU)’s Agenda 2063.
These priorities are: driving inclusive economic growth and job creation; reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living; and building a capable, ethical, and developmental state.
In line with its mandate, the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation produces periodic assessment reviews on the performance of government against the set targets and indicators in the MTDP 2024 – 2029.
On the economic front, South Africa recorded a 0.8% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the second quarter of 2025 – the strongest quarterly performance since 2022. Employment also showed signs of recovery, with 248 000 jobs added in the third quarter, lowering the official unemployment rate to 31.9%.
Perhaps the most tangible gain has been in energy stability. More than 175 consecutive days without load shedding were recorded during the review period, while the Energy Availability Factor rose above 63%, reaching 70% on several days. These improvements have helped restore operational certainty for businesses and households alike, forming a key pillar of the administration’s reform narrative.
The country’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list further bolstered investor confidence, while the achievement of a primary budget surplus strengthened fiscal credibility.
Yet youth unemployment stands at 58.5%, business confidence remains subdued, and logistics constraints continue to weigh on growth. These realities may feature prominently in President Ramaphosa’s address, particularly as government seeks to accelerate structural reforms under Operation Vulindlela.
Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury which aims to achieve more rapid and inclusive economic growth through a programme of far-reaching economic reform.
Phase I of Operation Vulindlela focused on unlocking progress in five priority areas: electricity, freight logistics, water, telecommunications, and the visa system. These reforms were selected for their high potential to catalyse investment, enhance economic competitiveness, and create jobs. Phase II represents a second wave of structural reform aimed at unlocking more rapid, inclusive, and sustained economic growth. While continuing to drive implementation of reforms initiated during Phase I, the second phase introduces new focus areas that respond to evolving challenges in the economy.
Infrastructure, Industry and Tourism
Infrastructure investment continues to anchor government’s growth strategy. Over R1 trillion has been set aside for public infrastructure over the medium term, supported by blended finance models designed to crowd in private capital. Major projects have been approved through the Infrastructure Fund and the Budget Facility for Infrastructure, signalling renewed momentum.
Industrial policy interventions have also yielded results. New investments worth more than R44 billion have been secured across sector masterplans, including a R4.2 billion investment linked to the launch of BMW’s X3 plug-in hybrid vehicle. South Africa’s battery minerals pipeline, valued at about R40 billion, positions the country within emerging global clean-energy value chains.
Tourism has continued its post-pandemic recovery, with international arrivals reaching 7.6 million between January and September 2025, supported by ongoing visa reforms.
However, delays in project preparation, procurement inefficiencies and municipal capacity constraints continue to slow infrastructure delivery.
Poverty, Social Protection and Human Development
While economic recovery has been gradual, social protection remains the state’s most immediate line of defence against poverty and inequality.
More than 19 million South Africans continue to receive social grants, cushioning vulnerable households from rising food prices and administered costs. Government has also expanded food and nutrition programmes and strengthened support services for survivors of gender-based violence and femicide.
In education, early childhood development (ECD) has seen notable gains, with over 1.3 million children enrolled in ECD programmes and thousands of centres registered. The near completion of school sanitation projects marks a visible improvement in learning environments, though concerns persist about declining mathematics enrolment.
Health outcomes reflect a similar mix of progress and pressure. HIV viral suppression has reached 96%, TB treatment success rates have improved, and groundwork has been laid for the National Health Insurance (NHI).
Despite these interventions, inequality remains entrenched, with South Africa’s Gini coefficient still hovering around 0.63. High unemployment continues to undermine poverty reduction, reinforcing the centrality of job creation, which South Africans will wait to hear about in SONA 2026.
Building a Capable and Ethical State
Strengthening state capability has emerged as a defining priority of the 7th administration. Lifestyle audits have been conducted for the vast majority of senior managers, and the passage of the Public Service Commission Bill marks a milestone in efforts to professionalise the public service.
Financial distress, service delivery failures and unfunded mandates persist across many municipalities, prompting the establishment of inter-ministerial support structures and the development of a White Paper on Local Government reform.
Crime and corruption remain high on the public agenda. While contact crimes have declined modestly and more than half of the State Capture Commission recommendations have been implemented or substantially completed, violent crime and gender-based violence continue to weigh on government.
The Meaning of SONA 2026
As President Ramaphosa prepares to address Parliament at the City Hall, the symbolism of the venue will not be lost on South Africans. The setting evokes a moment of national renewal off-set by the 1990 tone – a reminder of the promise of democratic governance and constitutional accountability. – SAnews.gov.za
*Source: Statement by Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, on the Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2024 – 2029 on 23 January 2026.
