Thursday evening’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) by President Cyril Ramaphosa has emerged as the first to secure broad backing from government of national unity (GNU) partners, after a drafting process shaped by negotiations and direct input from coalition leaders.
Unlike previous Sona speeches, crafted around ANC policy positions, this year’s address was forged through compromise and bargaining among parties that only months ago campaigned against one another.
Ramaphosa met leaders of the 10 GNU partners on Wednesday, presenting what was described as the seventh draft of the speech and inviting final inputs. Several coalition partners told Sunday World that key elements reflected proposals advanced during GNU leadership discussions over the past year.
PA leader Gayton McKenzie said his party’s call for tougher action against gangsterism and illegal mining was reflected in Ramaphosa’s announcement of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deployments to dismantle criminal networks.
“The president deploying the SANDF and strengthening enforcement is not a win for any political party; it is a win for the communities who have been living in fear and hopelessness for so long.”
Coalition insiders said Ramaphosa planned to deploy the SANDF primarily to the Eastern Cape, but GNU partners proposed prioritising the Western Cape and Gauteng amid escalating organised crime.
While Ramaphosa stopped short of adopting some of the tougher language around “mass deportations” favoured by the PA, McKenzie said coalition partners have not been silenced.
“South Africans are tired of immigration chaos. They rightly expect and demand law and order. What the president spoke about, securing our borders, increasing inspectors, and digitising home affairs, are important steps,” he said.
DA leader John Steenhuisen welcomed Ramaphosa’s declaration of a State of Disaster to tackle foot-and-mouth disease, saying the DA had pushed for the measure. “It was a proposal the DA was pushing since the outbreak became a serious problem. The State of Disaster will strengthen ongoing efforts, accelerate rollout, tighten movement controls, and unlock urgently needed resources.”
He added, “Inflation has moderated. Investor confidence is showing signs of recovery. The country has exited the grey list. These are important signals that, with the adults in the room in government, South Africa can rise.”
Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi said, “We discussed the speech at the leaders’ meeting last year. Things like the SANDF deployment, immigration, malnutrition and appointments of people in state-owned companies. In my view, it was representative of the GNU.”
Al Jama-ah leader Ganief Hendricks welcomed Ramaphosa’s commitment to expanding higher education infrastructure and praised the tone on immigration. “Even when they are undocumented, they must be treated with kindness, not the way [US President Donald] Trump treats them with ICE.”
GNU partners said the address marked a shift from previous years, with the presidency now balancing competing priorities and negotiating shared positions across the coalition.
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