Summary: State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2023
- Overview
• President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his seventh State of the Nation Address
(SONA) to the Joint Sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council
of Provinces on Thursday, 23 February 2023.
• For the 2nd consecutive year, SONA was delivered from the Cape Town City
Hall after fires broke out at the parliamentary precinct on 02 January 2022,
destroying both the Old Assembly Wing and the National Assembly Wing of
the buildings of Parliament.
• The speech was preceded by interruptions from the Economic Freedom
Fighters (EFF) members of parliament as they raised issues pertaining to the
president’s Phala Phala Farmgate.
• African Transformation Movement (ATM)’s leader Vuyo Zungula was the first
to be thrown out of the house for defying the speaker, while the EFF was led
out by the parliamentary protection unit more than 30 minutes into the official
house proceedings. - President on Eskom and Electricity Crisis
• The president announced the declaration of a state of disaster to deal with the
energy crisis in the country. This follows a series of rolling blackouts by state
power utility Eskom.
• He also announced that he will be appointing the Minister of Electricity who
will be based in the presidency to deal with the energy crisis and bring back
stability within Eskom
• Despite this, the minister of Public Enterprise will remain the shareholder at
Eskom.
• The Auditor-General will be brought in to ensure continuous monitoring of
expenditures in order to guard against any abuses of the funds needed to
attend to this disaster.
• The Engineering Council of South Africa has offered to give as much
assistance as required by deploying engineers to work with the management
teams at power stations
• National Treasury is said to be finalizing a solution to Eskom’s R400 billion
debt burden in a manner that is equitable and fair to all stakeholders, which
will enable the utility to make necessary investments in maintenance and
transmission.
Number Description
300 MW Already been secured by Eskom from neighbouring countries.
9000 MW To be produced by 100 projects that are already underway
2800 MW New companies entering renewable energy programme to help
Eskom
R1.5 trillion To be invested for Just Energy Transmission over the next five
years
R100 billion The amount already attracted by the Northern Cape for renewable
energy projects
R400 billion Eskom debt that the National Treasury is expected to carry the
burden - On Infrastructure Development
• Government working to develop Transnet Roadmap, restructuring of Transnet
Freight Rail to create a separate Infrastructure Manager for the rail network by
October 2023.
• Transnet and private partners to conclude partnership agreements for Durban
and Ngqura container terminals to improve efficiency
• Transnet plans for the rehabilitation of its idle locomotives and expanding fleet
underway
• President said that more vehicles produced in South Africa are destined for
overseas markets, and are leaving through the Port Elizabeth automotive
terminal
• The restructuring of PRASA is underway and 13 commuter rail lines have
been reopened
• Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands water project to commence in 2023, while
the Umzimvubu water project will start in the next financial year 2023/24
• More water projects to increase capacity planned for Clanwilliam Dam,
Hazelmere Dam, and the Tzaneen Dam for supply in the West Coast,
eThekwini, and the eastern parts of Limpopo
• R600 million set aside for infrastructure projects
• Ramaphosa says by January this year, projects worth R232 billion were under
construction, and projects worth nearly R4 billion had been completed in the
country.
• SANRAL issued over R18 billion in construction contracts in the last three
years
• The president announced that 24 bridges are currently underway in Kwazulu
Natal, with a further 24 on the cards.
• The auction of the telecommunication spectrum contributed 14 billion for the
fiscus, it is expected to reduce the cost of data for connectivity. - On Unemployment
• The president says the country has more than 25 million people who rely on
income support. He promised an increase in the existing social grants to deal
with high inflation.
• Government to continue with Social Relief of Distress Grants which he says is
currently received by 7.8 million people.
• Through the Small Enterprise Finance Agency – SEFA – govt plans to provide
R1.4 billion in financing to over 90,000 entrepreneurs.
• Government in partnership with the SA SME Fund is working to establish a
R10 billion fund to support SMME growth. The government is looking at the
possibility of providing R2.5 billion for the fund and for the balance of R7.5
billion to be raised from the private sector.
• Post Bank Amendment Bill underway to allow for the establishment of state
bank and allow funding to those who cannot be funded by private banking
systems
• National Skills Fund to set aside R800 million in the digital and technology
sector.
• 20 000 TVET graduates to be placed under employment in 2023 while
increasing artisan intake to 30 000 in all TVET colleges
• 1 million opportunities created by presidential employment stimulus across all
provinces
• 150 000 school assistants started work In February 2023, while the Social
Employment Fund is recruiting 50 000 people, and 36 000 opportunities are
expected to come from the National Youth Service
• 140 000 small-scale farmers received vouchers for seeds, fertilizer and
equipment, and there is a plan to issue 250 000 vouchers in 2023
• The Industrial Development Corporation has earmarked approximately R9
billion to invest in women-led businesses. - On Education
• 1.5 million children are now beneficiaries of the Early Childhood Development
subsidy
• The Sanitation Appropriate for Education Initiative – known as SAFE –
together with the government’s Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery
Initiative has built 55,000 appropriate toilets with resources from the public
and private sectors.
• In 2023, the government will finalize a Comprehensive Student Funding
model for higher education to address the missing middle in the NSFAS
criteria. - On Safety and Security
• The president promises 10 000 new recruits in the South African Police
Service (SAPS)
• The specialized police teams that are working on tackling crimes like
kidnapping, extortion, and illegal mining have had several breakthroughs,
arresting dozens of suspects and achieving several convictions.
• He promised firm action against those involved in economic sabotage as it
causes serious damage to the country’s economy. The Multi-disciplinary
Economic Infrastructure Task Teams are said to be operational in 20
identified hotspots.
• 10111 police hotline to be boosted with private sector partnership and more
funding for the National Prosecution Authority and Special Investigative Unit
promised.
• The Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence adopted the National
Strategic Plan to help with the scourge
• The National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council, consisting of people from
across society, is in place to advise on suitable mechanisms to stem
corruption, including an overhaul of the institutional architecture for
combatting corruption.
• Following state capture cases, R7 billion was recovered and R12.9 billion of
funds and assets have been frozen.
• The Witness Protection Unit will be capacitated and there is a proposal to
introduce amendments to Protected Disclosures Act and Witness Protection
Act
• The NPA’s Investigative Directorate to bed established as a permanent entity
within the NPA - On State-Owned Enterprises
• Government will oversee the establishment of a State-Owned Holding
Company as part of a centralized shareholder model that will ensure effective
oversight of SOEs.
• Presidency and National Treasury to work together to rationalize government
departments, entities, and programmes over the next three years.
• 163 of the 257 municipalities were identified as dysfunctional and ineffective
and failing to provide services and interventions are being implemented to
help them.
• On 13 April 2023, the 5th South Africa Investment Conference will be held.
The target has been set at more than R2 trillion in new investment by 2028. - Possible Interviews and analysis
Name Phone Affiliation
Moloto Mothapo 082 370 6930 Parliament Spokesperson
Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri 076 891 5420 ANC Spokesperson
Sinawo Thambo 072 692 7422 EFF Spokesperson
Richard Newton 076 763 7568 DA Head of Comms
Wouter Wessels 082 674 6670 FF Plus Spokesperson
Bantu Holomisa 082 552 4156 UDM President
Mkhuleko Hlengwa 071 111 0539 IFP Spokesperson
Dennis Bloem 082 451 5718 COPE Spokesperson
Adv. Shameemah Salie 084 423 0476 Al Jama -ah Spokesperson
Margaret Arnolds 076 470 5080 AIC Treasurer and Spokesperson
Keeno Peterson 073 580 2902 ACDP Media Liaison
Simthandile Tyhali 063 736 3938 PAC Media Liaison
Vuyo Zungula 083 240 7095 ATM President
Sahaik Emam 081 439 4700 NFP Member of Parliament
Political Analysts
NAME DETAILS CONTACT LANGUAGES
Prof Lesiba
Teffo
Academic, author, lecturer, and
researcher
082 802 8424 English & Sepedi
Dr Levy Ndou Academic, lecturer and Political
analyst
083 235 3607 English, Sepedi and
Tshivenda
Angelo Fick Lecturer, researcher and political
analyst
082 051 8997 English
Prof Susan
Booysen
Academic, author, researcher and
lecturer
082 290 1636 English & Afrikaans
Sandile Swana Former lecturer and political
analyst
083 390 3066 English & IsiXhosa
Prof Bheki
Mngomezulu
Academic, author, lecturer and
researcher.
Expertise: Political Science, Higher
Education and African Comparative
History.
072 351 1947 English & IsiZulu
Asanda
Ngoasheng
Race and scholar, lecturer and
political analyst
Expertise: Race, gender,
diversity
082 610 9374 English & IsiXhosa
Prof Sethulego
Matebese
Academic, lecturer & researcher.
Expertise: Local politics, social
movements, protests, governance
and public participation at the local
government level.
083 990 5510 English & SeSotho
Prof Dirk Kotze Academic, author, lecturer and
researcher.
Expertise: Politics, conflict
resolution, governance and public
policy
082 789 7401 English & Afrikaans
Theo Venter Political and policy specialist,
strategic facilitator, and scenario
expert.
Expertise: Politics, strategy and
scenario methodology
082 415 9034 English & Afrikaans
Prof William
Gumede
Academic, author, lecturer &
researcher.
Expertise: Political Economy,
076 579 9812 English
governance, public management &
policy, Parliamentary monitoring &
evaluation.
Dr Thapelo
Tselapedi
Academic & lecturer.
Expertise: Political and socioeconomic issues, democracy and
colonialism.
082 811 2689 English, Setswana &
SeSotho
Mapaseka
Morua
Political commentator, Moderator
and Communications and Media
Specialist
Expertise: Political science, law &
social justice
072 132 7408 English & SePedi
Sanusha
Naidu
Academic, author, lecturer &
researcher.
Expertise: Political Economy and
Development, Democracy, Foreign
Policy & KZN Politics
083 637 0903 English
Dr Lubna
Nadvi
Academic, author, lecturer &
researcher.
Expertise: Political Science,
International Relations, Gender
Politics, Political Philosophy,
Middle East Politics, Conflict
Transformation and Peace
Studies.
083 786 4918 English
Prof Collette
Schultz
Herzenberg
Academic, lecturer and researcher.
Expertise: Political Behaviour;
Democracy and Governance,
Corruption and Public Sector
Ethics, Social Justice and Human
Rights.
083 564 9567 English & Afrikaans
Magic
Nkhwashu
Independent analyst and social
activist
Expertise: Human and Disability
Rights, Social Justice and
elections.
072 1341223/
067 646 6090
English, IsiZulu &
XiTsonga
Prof Andre
Duvenhage
Academic, author, lecturer &
researcher.
Expertise: Political Theory,
Political Transformation,
Governance and Public
Management.
082 883 4156 English & Afrikaans
Dr Ntsikelelo
Breakfast
Academic, lecture and researcher.
Expertise: History and Political
Studies, Economic Development,
Race Relations, Peace and
Security Studies.
076 217 5159 English & IsiXhosa
Dumisani
Tembe
Public policy researcher and
project manager.
Expertise: Leadership and Policy
Development; Strategic Planning,
and Governance.
063 174 5182 English & IsiZulu
Precious Independent Analyst & lecturer 083 633 0218 English & IsiZulu
This fact sheet was compiled by MASWELE RALEBONA, Specialist Researcher. For
more information, please don’t hesitate to contact me on 079 501 5640.
Lugayeni Expertise: Economics,
governance and service delivery.
Dr Zweli
Jolobe
Academic, lecture and researcher.
Expertise: Elections, political
parties and the dynamics of
political coalitions, International
Mediation, Global Governance and
Conflict in Africa.
083 4903272/
073 521 9648
English & IsiXhosa
