Cape Town – The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) is set to picket outside the Cape Town city hall on Thursday when President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his 6th State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The picket is aimed to “expose” Ramaphosa for not fulfilling his promises to the nation.
In a tweet on Thursday, Saftu secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi wrote: “An honest president would admit that Sona being delivered in the city hall is a statement of how fast things are falling apart under his party leadership.
#SONA2022 An honest President would admit that the very fact that SONA is delivered in a city hall is a statement of how fast things are falling apart under his party leadership! No parliament, SAA, SAExpress, Denel with Eskom on its last breath in the ICU and society in crisis
— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) February 10, 2022
“No parliament, SAA, SA Express, Denel, with Eskom on its last breath in the ICU and society in crisis.”
Join Cape Town picket during #SONA https://t.co/4uUMNsAiid pic.twitter.com/V4DjT76byo
— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) February 9, 2022
Ramaphosa is expected to inspire confidence in his leadership, as his address comes on the back of security concerns, rampant corruption and fraud, rising unemployment and a strained fiscus.
EWN quoted political analyst Professor Richard Calland as saying that this year’s Sona would be very different for Ramaphosa, coming in the wake of the July riots, the fire at Parliament and the release of two state capture inquiry reports detailing the extent of the rot in government.
“It’s a real test of his leadership. I think it’s probably one of the most important speeches of his life in terms of his political career. He’s faced many forks in the road – this is another one,” the report quoted Calland as saying.
Ramaphosa has given few clues about what to expect.
His office said the speech “embraces all South Africans and all sectors of society, and reflects the lived experience of all South Africans, regardless of background or political orientation”.
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“It also focuses the minds and energies of all South Africans on the values that bind the nation together and on the actions needed to build and sustain our shared future,” the presidency said in a statement.
But a speech riddled with platitudes may fail to reassure a country frightened by rising crime and angered by regular cuts in power supplies.
William Gumede, head of the Democracy Works think-tank, said South Africans want to hear how Ramaphosa plans to turn things around.
“He can’t paint a gloomy picture,” Gumede said.
“He really has to give an energetic response, but one that is practical and believable and credible.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
Additional reporting by AFP
