High unemployment and crime should top Ramaphosa's 2026 SONA agenda

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) must be anchored on tackling the country’s dangerously high unemployment rate of 42.4% and sluggish 1% economic growth, says Cosatu’s parliamentary coordinator Matthew Parks. 

The government’s plans for the year must also focus on entrenched levels of poverty and inequality, and endemic crime and corruption, Parks added.

Ramaphosa is set to deliver his SONA at the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday. Parties will debate SONA on February 17 and 18, followed by a reply from Ramaphosa on February 19.

Cosatu said it was fundamental that the government respond decisively to the cries and hopes of the working class and society in general.

Parks highlighted the encouraging progress in tackling load shedding.

“It is critical that further support be given towards reducing the increasingly unaffordable price of electricity.”

He added that the positive turnarounds being achieved at Transnet and Metrorail should be accelerated, including helping Transnet reduce its debt burden, expediting infrastructure investments, and putting in place tight security to protect commuters and property.

“Decisive turnaround plans need to be actioned for struggling state-owned enterprises, in particular Denel, the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Post Office, and Postbank, which continue to struggle under incompetent and weak management.”

Parks said while the obstacles hindering economic growth are tackled, relief for the poor and unemployed must be enhanced, in particular raising the SRD Grant to the food poverty line and expanding the Presidential Employment Stimulus.

In a recent engagement with labour leaders, Ramaphosa had expressed a commitment to being candid about the nation’s progress in achieving set goals as encapsulated in the Medium Term Development Plan.

“We will also seek to look back and see how far we have gone. Have we been able to move the needle? Have we been able to achieve certain things we said we would do? We will delve more directly into the state of the people of South Africa and the challenges we face as a nation.

“We do so in an honest and measure of humility as well and look at shortcomings, including failures we had to go through as it happens in life that as you set goals, there are times where you don’t achieve the goals you would have set,” he said.

Build One South Africa leader Mmusi Maimane said: “The president can make many promises, including job creation. What the president needs to do is to stabilise the police. There can be no economy if there is crime.” 

He urged Ramaphosa to present a concrete plan for the SAPS, including the announcement of a permanent Police Minister and additional resources for police operations.

Maimane also highlighted the pressing need for improvements in education and attracting investment to bolster the economy.

DA spokesperson on Home Affairs Adrian Roos said his party expected the Department of Home Affairs to feature prominently in the address, saying it was one of the few departments that was able to point to measurable progress in reforming service delivery and supporting economic growth.

Lobby group Amandla.mobi called on Ramaphosa to prioritise the marginalised majority and restore their humanity and dignity by implementing the Basic Income Grant.

“We hope your 2026 SONA will bring real solutions for the unaffordable cost of living. Food is expensive. Month to month, millions in Mzansi cannot afford to buy healthy, nutritious food for themselves and their families,” said the lobby group.

Cape Times