Ramaphosa will be delivering his maiden SONA under the Government of National Unity (GNU) tonight at the Cape Town City Hall at 7pm.
While some netizens are optimistic about the outcomes of this year’s SONA under the new broad coalition government, most South Africans do not expect much change from Ramaphosa’s speech.
“I am really not interested in watching the State of the Nation Address as it will be the same as always, full of empty promises and no action. I have lost hope as ordinary people struggle now more than ever,” said @RadarOfDavid.
https://x.com/RadarOfDavid/status/1887165225041797598?t=kfI30zvrF9n4NbwOoCoCaw&s=19
“(SONA) is just another parliamentarians matric dance with revised broken promises,” said @Marhubane.
https://x.com/Marhubane/status/1887372286426075262?t=kfI30zvrF9n4NbwOoCoCaw&s=19
“It has been SONA year on year, and nothing changes. It is just useless, I don’t even take it serious. I don’t have time for it,” said@NathiMG.
https://x.com/NathiMGW/status/1887364360923644414?t=kfI30zvrF9n4NbwOoCoCaw&s=19
“I expect nothing from him (Ramaphosa), he has no plans for South Africa. He is just there for business deals, nothing much,” said @khanyanhlumayo.
https://x.com/khanyanhlumayo/status/1887386274241388803?t=kfI30zvrF9n4NbwOoCoCaw&s=19
“Ramphosa seems like umjita ogrand (a good man), a nice guy, but I expect nothing from him as far as blacks are concerned,” said @PRO_JTM.
https://x.com/PRO_JTM/status/1887360147892162924?t=kfI30zvrF9n4NbwOoCoCaw&s=19
South Africans on social media furthermore instructed the Ramaphosa to urgently prioritise the rife unemployment rate plaguing civil society, especially young people.
The unemployment rate currently sits at 32.1%, while 45.5% of young people between the ages of 15 and 34 remained jobless.
“We have seen massive unemployment and protests by health specialists, doctors, pharmacists and assistant pharmacists in almost all provinces. When a sector important as this one (health industry) is not giving jobs, what more do you expect?,” said @XolaniMamkeli.
https://x.com/XolaniMamkeli/status/1887375675742425531?t=kfI30zvrF9n4NbwOoCoCaw&s=19
“We need to hear a clear detailed and practical plan on job creation. Implementable plans is what we want to hear about. He (Ramaphosa) must tell us about failures of the previous plans, and how they intend to rectify what went wrong to attain positive outcomes going forward,” said @PuleZtro.
https://x.com/PuleZtro/status/1887396670435909869?t=kfI30zvrF9n4NbwOoCoCaw&s=19
“I hope to see a clear, actionable plan for job creation, especially for the youth who continue to bear the brunt of unemployment. Additionally, tangible commitments to improving service delivery, like fixing crumbling infrastructure, ensuring reliable electricity, and access to clean water. These are non-negotiable,” said @visse_ss.
https://x.com/visse_ss/status/1887363339719774337?t=kfI30zvrF9n4NbwOoCoCaw&s=19
“Since 2018, he has been promising 1 million jobs, instead people are losing their jobs. He should just concentrate on the economic recovery plan and service delivery. He is full of empty promises,” said @Jabudick.
https://x.com/Jabudick/status/1887387031481033132?t=kfI30zvrF9n4NbwOoCoCaw&s=19
Moreover, other netizens demanded Ramaphosa to spotlight his plans for the mass deportation of undocumented foreigners, which SA citizens have been urgently calling for, including sustainable solutions in ending crime.
“What is expected of the State of the Nation Address is taking away rights of criminals, no more comfort and funding prison learning programmes. Wipe out all corrupt mayors and in the municipalities. Deport all illegal foreigners and legal ones that committed crimes,” said @ellias_motau.
https://x.com/ellias_motau/status/1887166438059671830?t=kfI30zvrF9n4NbwOoCoCaw&s=19
“When are they (government) securing our borders, which are porous and reclaiming our cities, which have been taken over by criminal syndicates?,” asked @mduduzzee_dube.