President Ramaphosa's SONA: A misleading picture of unity in South Africa

By Michael Andisile Mayalo

In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa painted an image of a South Africa united under the Government of National Unity (GNU) banner. He spoke of shared commitment and progress, urging the country to move forward together.

However, beneath the rhetoric of unity and collaboration lies a much darker reality: the GNU is fractured and deeply divided. Ramaphosa’s speech, rather than offering clarity, only misled the public about the state of affairs in the country's governing coalition.

The concept of the GNU, which was initially formed in the wake of South Africa’s complex political landscape, was supposed to bring together various political parties to work in the nation's best interest. The idea was that South Africa could address its myriad challenges more effectively by bridging ideological divides and uniting disparate forces. But the present-day reality paints a very different picture.

Undeniably, South Africa is in the midst of a political crisis. The governing coalition is far from the harmonious partnership that Ramaphosa's SONA would have us believe. Instead of cooperation, the GNU is characterized by infighting, ideological clashes, and disagreements that have prevented meaningful progress in key areas. Far from symbolising unity, the government is an uneasy alliance teetering on the edge of collapse.

One of the most glaring examples of this division is the ongoing tension within the coalition's ranks, particularly between the African National Congress (ANC) and its partners. The DA, a key coalition member, has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s direction, accusing the ANC of undermining democratic values and failing to address the nation’s most pressing issues. In fact, the DA has openly threatened to leave the coalition altogether, a move that would further fracture an already unstable government.

This growing discontent within the coalition is not a new development. Over the past year, the cracks in the GNU have only deepened. Policy disagreements, political manoeuvring, and personal rivalries have dominated the political discourse, leaving little room for the collaboration South Africa desperately needs. The tensions between coalition partners have been evident in almost every key policy area, from handling the country’s economic crisis to the ongoing debate over land reform.

These divisions have made it virtually impossible for the government to present a cohesive vision for the future. Despite these ongoing struggles, Ramaphosa continues to push the narrative of a united government working towards the common good. His speech on February 6th, while eloquent and filled with optimistic rhetoric, glossed over the real issues plaguing the GNU.

He spoke of progress in the fight against corruption, economic recovery, and job creation. Still, he failed to address whether the government itself is in a position to deliver on these promises. Instead of acknowledging the coalition's severe challenges, the President highlighted minor victories and rallied the nation around unity.

While unity is a desirable goal, it cannot be achieved by ignoring the deep divides within the government. The failure to confront these divisions head-on only perpetuates the illusion of unity, leaving the country vulnerable to further instability. The DA’s threat to leave the coalition is not an isolated incident. It is indicative of a broader dissatisfaction with the current state of South Africa’s political landscape.

Many citizens are growing weary of the endless political bickering and the failure of elected officials to put the country’s interests ahead of their partisan agendas. The ongoing infighting within the GNU is a stark reminder that political unity in South Africa is not just a matter of bringing different parties together but of fostering genuine collaboration and mutual respect—a challenge that seems increasingly out of reach.

The reality is that the GNU, as it stands, is an uneasy and dysfunctional alliance. Despite their shared membership in the coalition, its members remain entrenched in their own ideological corners, unable to find common ground on critical issues. The President’s speech, though well-meaning, did nothing to change this fundamental truth. By promoting a false image of unity, Ramaphosa is doing a disservice to the people of South Africa, who deserve leaders willing to confront the nation’s divisions with honesty and transparency. Ultimately, the illusion of unity presented in the President’s SONA is a temporary fix to a much larger problem.

The GNU, in its current form, is not equipped to lead South Africa towards the progress it desperately needs. The sooner this truth is acknowledged, the sooner the country can begin the difficult but necessary process of healing its political divides. Only then can South Africa move forward with the genuine unity that has eluded it for far too long?

*Mayalo is an independent writer, analyst, and commentator