President Ramaphosa ‘made unrealistic promises’, say analysts

University of Johannesburg Public Management expert Daniel Meyer said President Cyril Ramaphosa could have bitten off more than he could chew in his SONA.

“The president has announced that they are going to have a new white paper. There was an old white paper that was done in 1998 on local government…It looks like they will redo that one so that they take a relook at the local government to see how the whole model is working.

“A new funding model is needed for local government as 70% of municipalities are either bankrupt or are on the way to getting bankrupt. The government still believes in the district development funding.

“Most municipalities’ management complain that the government is not listening to them and they don't cooperate…Service delivery is a disaster in many municipalities because of failed management.

“When it come to infrastructure…I'm not sure where the government is going to get more than R900 billion over three years for infrastructure…I don't know where the money is going to come from,” Meyer said.

He said the country cannot afford to take more loans because the interest on the repayment is 21% of the budget already.

“I don't think that number (R900 billion) is realistic. The private sector is not going to get involved.

“The president has no economic plan. They have used the word inclusive growth before. It has been used in the past which means more people must participate in the economy.

“But there is big competition globally and if we are a labour based economy competing with a capital based economy would produce things much cheaper and faster,” he said.

Dr John Molepo, Associate Professor at Tshwane University of Technology said people would be asking themselves what the president will achieve after all that he has promised.

“With GNU on board, it may derail some of the progress made since other political parties may disagree on many issues including BELA, NHI and expropriation of land,” Molepo said.

Ramaphosa delivered the 2025 State of the Nation Address in Cape Town on Thursday, outlining the government's plans to address pressing issues such as service delivery, load shedding, and infrastructure development.

Ramaphosa acknowledged the challenges facing the country, particularly with regards to water scarcity and load shedding.

"Many people in our cities, towns, and villages are experiencing more and more frequent water shortages as a result of failing water infrastructure," he said.

To address this, Ramaphosa announced that the government would be investing heavily in expanding water resources.

"To date, the Infrastructure Fund has secured R23 billion for seven large water infrastructure projects," he revealed.

Regarding load shedding, Ramaphosa noted that the measures implemented through the Energy Action Plan had reduced the severity and frequency of power outages.

"While the return of load shedding for two days last week was a reminder that our energy supply is still constrained, we remain on a positive trajectory," he said.

The president also highlighted the government's efforts to reform the energy sector, including the introduction of the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, which came into effect January 1.

"This year, we will put in place the building blocks of a competitive electricity market," he announced.

Infrastructure development was another key area of focus, with Ramaphosa announcing that the government would spend over R940 billion on infrastructure over the next three years.

"This includes R375 billion in spending by state-owned companies," he said.

The president also highlighted the importance of transportation infrastructure, noting that the government was working to revitalise small harbours and unlock economic opportunities for coastal communities.

Overall, Ramaphosa's address emphasised the government's commitment to addressing the country's pressing challenges and improving the lives of all South Africans.

"We want a nation where there is work for all, where every person can earn a decent living and realize their potential."

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