Ramaphosa’s 2026 SONA, the best in nine years: Analyst

Political analyst, Professor Sam Koma, says President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) was arguably the most action-oriented speech delivered during his nine years in office.

Ramaphosa delivered his address last Thursday, marking the official opening of the National Legislature for 2026.

Koma says address was stood out for its focus on concrete deliverables rather than rhetoric or broad policy statements, signalling a shift toward implementation.

Among the key announcements was the deployment of South African National Defence Force troops to parts of Gauteng and the Western Cape to combat illegal mining and gang violence. Ramaphosa said Parliament would be briefed on the timing, locations and cost of the deployments.

“I will inform the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces regarding the timing and place of deployment of our soldiers and what it will cost,” he said. “At the same time, we are implementing an integrated strategy to address the root causes of crime through coordinated interventions across society, from street lighting to access to social services.

“We are going to tackle gun crime by streamlining legislation and regulations on licencing, possessing and trading in firearms and ammunition. We will increase enforcement of existing gun laws. We are putting more boots on the ground through the recruitment this year of 5,500 additional police officers, adding to the 20,000 new officers we announced in previous State of the Nation Addresses.”

Ramaphosa also announced that the government has earmarked more than R156 billion in public funding for water and sanitation infrastructure alone over the next three years.

“I have directed the Minister of Water and Sanitation and her deputy, as well as the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to attend to the water shortage problem and engage with our communities,” he said. “We will now elevate our response to the water crisis to a National Water Crisis Committee, which I will chair.

Ramaphosa did not spare the rod on dysfunctional municipalities, a detail that Koma hailed as a dedicated focus on turning around the decline and neglect that had been engulfing the system of local government.

The president conceded that in many places, local government administrations are weak and governed by patronage rather than technical capacity and merit.

He further announced that the government has already laid criminal charges against 56 municipalities that have failed to meet their obligations.

“A far-reaching overhaul is now underway to address the root causes of dysfunction in many municipalities.

“Learning from our experience of the past 30 years, we will, in the coming months, finalise a revised White Paper on Local Government. This will provide solutions for the functioning of an effective local government system. The White Paper will reimagine the way that local government works. The current system is too complex and fragmented, expecting even small and weak municipalities to take on many responsibilities.”

Professor Koma has praised Ramaphosa for strongly defending South Africa’s sovereignty, saying Pretoria will not be bullied.

“He is clear that South Africa will continue to articulate its foreign policy without fear of being bullied by any nation in the context of the global world. ”

The President also outlined an integrated crime-fighting strategy aimed at addressing root causes, including improved street lighting, access to social services and tighter firearm controls. He announced plans to streamline gun-licensing legislation, strengthen enforcement of existing laws and boost police visibility through the recruitment of 5,500 additional officers this year — on top of the 20,000 previously announced.

On infrastructure, Ramaphosa said government has earmarked more than R156 billion over the next three years for water and sanitation projects. He further announced the establishment of a National Water Crisis Committee, which he will chair, to coordinate responses to ongoing shortages.

The president was also blunt about the state of local government, conceding that many municipalities are dysfunctional, weakened by patronage and a lack of technical capacity. He revealed that criminal charges have already been laid against 56 municipalities for failing to meet their statutory obligations.

Ramaphosa said government would finalise a revised White Paper on Local Government in the coming months, describing it as a far-reaching overhaul aimed at simplifying and strengthening a system he said has become overly complex and fragmented.

Koma welcomed the focus on local government reform, saying it signalled a serious attempt to arrest long-standing decline at municipal level.

The analyst also praised Ramaphosa for strongly defending South Africa’s sovereignty in the address, noting the president’s insistence that the country would continue to pursue its foreign policy independently and without fear of external pressure.

“He made it clear that South Africa will articulate its position in the global arena without being bullied by any nation,” Koma said.