The Black Management Forum (BMF) expressed disappointment over President
Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2025 state of the nation address (Sona), describing it as uninspiring.
The BMF’s view came after Ramaphosa used his first State of the Nation address as a president of a coalition government to unveil ambitious economic programmes that have the potential to turn the country into a large construction site.
“The Sona did not delve deep enough into the myriad socio-economic challenges facing the country or how these would be tangibly resolved to bring about transformation,” said BMF president Mpho Motsei.
“The president appeared to avoid the topic of broad-based black economic empowerment and merely referenced the government’s commitment to a non-racial, non-sexist South African society,”
“This watered-down approach is likely the negotiated outcome of the government of national unity.
“The BMF is of the view that this approach overlooks the massive levels of inequality in South Africa, which disproportionately impact black women and youth and cannot be ignored.”
He said Ramaphosa appeared to give the private sector a “get out of jail free card” and did not pass any of the burden for the country’s economic woes onto the private sector.
An independent economist said Ramaphosa’s Sona’s promises were more than those that “Father Christmas” would make.
Though impressed by Ramaphosa’s bold speech, Mandla Maleka was not convinced the president’s plans would be implemented.
“Since the dawn in the history of Sona, never before has the speech been rich on economic stimulus measures. Literally the president has outshone even ‘Father Christmas with promises,’” said Maleka.
When delivering his Sona, Ramaphosa unveiled an over 3% economic growth target to attract investment and create jobs.
He announced a R940-billion infrastructure project budget, which includes R375-billion in spending by state-owned companies over the next three years.
Ramaphosa also unveiled plans to source R100-billion in infrastructure financing.
He also gave an update on the construction of Eastern Cape’s Mtentu Bridges, which upon completion is set to be the tallest in Africa, and the Polihlali Dam, which will feed 490-million cubic metres of water a year from the Lesotho Highlands into the Vaal River System, securing water supply to several provinces for years to come.
Maleka added that projects announced by Ramaphosa would trigger corruption. “With so many billions of rands mentioned, one hopes that there won’t be temptation to rear the proverbial corruption head up,” he said.
