SONA WRAP | ‘We face daunting challenges but will emerge victorious’: Ramaphosa

February 10 2022 — 22:47

John Steenhuisen: 'That's not ever going to happen'

February 10 2022 — 22:44

Julius Malema: We can't 'join' Ramaphosa in protecting corruption

February 10 2022 — 22:35

LISTEN | President’s state of the nation address doesn’t 'cross the Rubicon'

The overwhelming call from South Africans when President Cyril Ramaphosa took to the podium to deliver his 2022 state of the nation address from Cape Town City Hall on Thursday night was for clear and decisive action.

However, Efficient Group chief economist Dawie Roodt says while there were encouraging bright spots throughout the address, the president didn’t quite manage to cross the Rubicon. Listen here: 

February 10 2022 — 22:28

Ramaphosa has no confidence in his own ministers, opposition parties say

In his state of the nation address on Thursday, Ramaphosa announced that former Exxaro CEO Sipho Nkosi would lead the “red tape team”, to be located in his office, with the goal of creating an ease-of-doing-business environment.

This comes just a day after he announced former Absa CEO Daniel Mminele would head the newly established presidential climate finance task team.

Both the EFF's Julius Malema and the DA's John Steenhuisen believe this was a vote of no confidence in Ramaphosa's own cabinet — with Steenhuisen going as far as saying it shows that the president feels that he has a “dummy cabinet”.

February 10 2022 — 22:25

IN FULL | SA must 'pull itself back from the brink of despair': Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his state of the nation address on Thursday night, making a slew of promises and commitments that, he says, will revitalise South Africa's admittedly weak economy. Below his the full text of Ramaphosa's address, as provided to journalists. It has not been edited.

February 10 2022 — 22:06

LISTEN | President Ramaphosa's full state of the nation address

February 10 2022 — 22:04

LISTEN | Ramaphosa addresses corruption in his state of the nation address

February 10 2022 — 21:52

Ramaphosa focuses on economic reforms and prioritises Eskom and Transnet

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced new measures to accelerate his economic structural reform programme this year.

Delivering his state of the nation address in parliament on Thursday night, Ramaphosa said one of his priorities this would be tackling “unreliable electricity supply” by Eskom and the problems at ports run by Transnet, particularly the Durban harbour and Nqura in the Eastern Cape.

Ramaphosa told the joint sitting of the national assembly and the national council of provinces that his cabinet had on Wednesday approved proposed changes to the Electricity Regulation Act for public comment.

February 10 2022 — 21:38

Ramaphosa promises fresh faces at state security agencies after report on July riots

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will soon announce changes to the leadership of security agencies in response to the report on the July unrest.

This comes after a report by a task team panel found that Ramaphosa’s cabinet was largely to blame for the violence, as it had failed to prevent and manage the unrest which saw looting and torching of businesses as well as the deaths of more than 300 people.

Ramaphosa said during his state of the nation address on Thursday night that there would soon be an announcement on changes to the leadership of security agencies.

February 10 2022 — 21:10

Relief as R350 Covid-19 distress grant extended for another year

Millions of South Africans who benefited from the R350 Covid-19 social relief of distress (SRD) grant can breathe a sigh of relief, as the government has decided to keep it going for another year.

“Mindful of the proven benefits of the grant, we will extend the R350 SRD grant for one further year to the end of March 2023,” said President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday evening.

Delivering his state of the nation address, Ramaphosa said the relief should not come at the expense of basic services, given the already under pressure fiscus.

February 10 2022 — 21:07

Ex-mining boss to head ‘red tape team’ to boost small business

President Cyril Ramaphosa has put together a task team, led by former mining boss Sipho Nkosi, that will look at cutting the red tape that is making it difficult for small business to operate in SA.

The team, which will be based in the presidency, will among other things look into immediate ways the government can ensure suppliers are paid within 30 days.

This has been identified as one of the things killing small businesses in the country, especially those doing business with the state.

February 10 2022 — 20:58

State of disaster to end ‘soon’: Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday announced the government’s intentions to end the national state of disaster.

“We are ready to enter new phase in our management of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It is our intention, and my intention, to end the national state of disaster as soon as we have finalised other measures under the national health act and other legislation to manage and contain the pandemic,” said Ramaphosa.

February 10 2022 — 20:51

Ramaphosa ends his state of the nation address after 110 minutes

President Cyril Ramaphosa is applauded after ending his 110-minute speech, which was free of interruptions and disruptions. The joint sitting of the two houses of parliament is adjourned.

February 10 2022 — 20:50

'We face daunting challenges but we will emerge victorious'

"Our country has suffered damaging blows in recent times. A confluence of forces has brought us to where we are now. We face steep and daunting challenges. Indeed, we are engaged in a battle for the soul of this country. But there can be no doubt ... that we will emerge victorious. We will never be defeated because the spirit of resilience is deeply embedded in the DNA of South Africans. I ask South Africans to rally together to fight against corruption, to also be involved collectively in our fight to create jobs, in our fight to create a more just and equal society. If there ever was a time for us to work together, this is it. Let us go ahead and work together instead of some of us tearing our democracy apart."

February 10 2022 — 20:41

DNA backlog cut from 210,000 cases to 58,000, says Ramaphosa

Ramaphosa says there has been significant progress in reducing crime labs' DNA backlog from 210,000 exhibits to 58,000. He calls for a "sustained programme of social action" to tackle gender-based violence. 

February 10 2022 — 20:36

Cabinet 'accepts responsibility for July 2021 riots', 12,000 more cops on way

Ramaphosa says the cabinet accepts responsibility for the riots and looting that ravaged KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July 2021. Gaps in state security and crime intelligence will  be filled, and leadership changes in key agencies will be announced soon. Staffing in the public order policing unit "will be  brought to an appropriate level". Resources will be made available for 12,000 more police officers. Community policing forums will be re-established. "We need to take a more inclusive approach to assessing the threats to our country's security and determining the necessary responses." 

February 10 2022 — 20:35

Disposal of non-strategic state-owned enterprises flagged by Ramaphosa 

A state-owned holding company is being prepared to house strategic state-owned enterprises and exercise shareholder oversight. Ramaphosa says decisions will be made on which SOEs should be kept and which should be disposed of. 

February 10 2022 — 20:31

Special court rolls on way for state capture and corruption cases

"Discussions are under way with the judiciary for the creation of special court rolls for state capture and corruption cases," says Ramaphosa. He decries corruption related to Covid procurement and says the Special Investigating Unit had conducted its most comprehensive probe yet into what happened. Forty-five matters with a combined value of R2.1bn have been referred to the Special Tribunal. Some 386 cases have been referred for possible prosecution.

February 10 2022 — 20:25

State capture must never happen again, says Ramaphosa, pledging to protect whistleblowers

Ramaphosa says it is time to tackle corruption "once and for all" and says the first two parts of the report of the state capture commission show that public institutions and state-owned enterprises were infiltrated by a criminal network intent on looting public money. "The reports have detailed the devastating effects of these criminal activities."  Ramaphosa says the poorest and most vulnerable members of society have suffered most. "We must do everything in our power to ensure it never happens again. No later than June, I will present the plan of action in response to the commission's recommendations. We will strengthen the system to protect whistleblowers. We are doing a detailed review of all applicable legislation and a comparative study of other jurisdictions."

February 10 2022 — 20:20

R350 relief of distress grant extended to March 2023

Social relief of distress grant of R350 a month has helped 10-million people during the Covid pandemic, says Ramaphosa. He gives examples of how people have used the money to start businesses. "We must recognise that we face extreme fiscal restraint (but) mindful of the proven benefits of the grant we will extend the grant for one further year, to the end of March 2023."

February 10 2022 — 20:15

National youth service to sign up 50,000 young people, says Ramaphosa

"A revitalised national youth service will recruit its first cohort of 50,000 young people this year, creating opportunities for young people to help their communities and develop skills," says Ramaphosa, outlining a number of steps to make it easier for young people to find work.

February 10 2022 — 20:05

Gas industry has huge potential to create jobs, says Ramaphosa

Mining exploration strategy will be finalised soon, and the gas industry has huge potential for job creation and economic development. It will be developed in strict accordance with environmental laws, says Ramaphosa.

February 10 2022 — 20:01

Call centres and cannabis will create 630,000 jobs, says Ramaphosa

Ramaphosa says the government and the private sector have worked together to make SA a world leader in global business services - call centres. The sector is on track to create 500,000 new jobs over the next few years. Hemp and cannabis have the potential to create 130,000 new jobs, he says. 

February 10 2022 — 19:55

Buy local like me, says Ramaphosa

Ramaphosa says he is wearing a Foschini suit made in Epping, Cape Town. "Five years ago more than 80% of all Foschini Group merchandise came from East Asia. Today more than half of their merchandise is locally made. The genuine leather shoes I'm wearing today were made ... at Bolton Footwear in Cape Town and Dick Whittington Shoes in Maritzburg. Let us all promote localisation, let us buy locally made clothes and products. Local is lekker."

February 10 2022 — 19:50

Education infrastructure will be developed by new special purpose vehicle 

There'll be a new special purpose vehicle to deliver new education infrastructure. The approach is being piloted in the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape. Ramaphosa said this would speed up the building of schools. 

February 10 2022 — 19:46

Infrastructure projects worth more than R200bn on the way

Pipeline infrastructure projects to the value of R96bn are being prepared, says Ramaphosa. Private projects worth R133bn are also on the way. Ramaphosa supports the introduction of paved roads rather than asphalt, saying it is much cheaper. 

February 10 2022 — 19:42

We'll make it easier for small businesses, Ramaphosa pledges

Ramaphosa signals easing of labour laws for small businesses and says a new loan scheme will be developed for small and medium enterprises. "We are reviewing the Business Act to reduce the regulatory burden on informal businesses," he says. "There are too many regulations that are unduly complicated, costly and difficult to comply with. This prevents companies from growing and creating jobs." A new team in the presidency will cut red tape, headed by Sipho Nkosi, chair of the Small Business Institute.

February 10 2022 — 19:38

Hemp and cannabis cultivation will be new industry, says Ramaphosa

Ramaphosa signals the industrialisation of the production of hemp and cannabis. "Many countries have already advanced to higher levels," he says, referring directly to Lesotho. "Products to be eked out of hemp and cannabis are in great demand around the world." Eastern Cape and Pondoland area of KwaZulu-Natal will be big beneficiaries, he says.   

February 10 2022 — 19:35

Remote-working visas on the cards, says Ramaphosa

Visa application process for visitors to SA is being modernised and streamlined, says Ramaphosa. Updated critical skills list "ensures our immigration policy matches the needs of our economy". Remote-working visas and start-up visas are under consideration.

February 10 2022 — 19:31

'Digital TV has given our people joy'

"I have seen the joy that our people have when they gain access to digital and have the pleasure to watch television that is clear and has many more stations," says Ramaphosa, after decrying the "unacceptable delay" in migrating the TV signal from analogue to digital.

February 10 2022 — 19:28

Transnet will welcome private partners and provide access to its rail network

The president says port inefficiencies are hampering exports but Transnet is focused on improving the situation. "Transnet will soon as for proposals for private partners," he said. Third-party access will also be offered to the Transnet freight rail network. 

February 10 2022 — 19:25

Ramaphosa says massive amounts of renewable energy are on the way

Ramaphosa says he is accelerating the implementation of far-reaching structural reforms to drive growth. He says the fragility of the electricity system continues to have a huge impact on the lives of South Africans. "Policy missteps" and state capture are some of the reasons but renewable energy is on the way in significant quantities. And he says there will soon be a competitive market for electricity generation.

February 10 2022 — 19:20

'Government does not create jobs, businesses create jobs'

Ramaphosa moves on to the record unemployment rate and says an unreliable electricity supply and the high cost of doing business is hampering the economy. "We all know that government does not create jobs, businesses create jobs," he says, to a round of ironic applause. "The key task of government is to create the conditions that will enable the private sector."

February 10 2022 — 19:17

National state of disaster will end soon, says Ramaphosa

Nearly 42% of all adults and 60% of over-50s are fully vaccinated against Covid, says Ramaphosa, announcing that it is his intention to end the national state of disaster "as soon as we have finalised other measures under the National Health Act and other legislation to manage and contain the pandemic".

February 10 2022 — 19:12

Solidarity Fund raised R3.4bn 

Ramaphosa pays tribute to the way South Africans have responded to the Covid-19 pandemic and thanks health workers. He says the Solidarity Fund raised R3.4bn from more than 300,000 South Africans and companies.

February 10 2022 — 19:08

'We need a new consensus'

"We are standing together against corruption," Ramaphosa says in the opening section of his address. "The present situation of deep poverty, unemployment and inequality is unacceptable and unsustainable." He says SA needs a new consensus which recognises that the state must create an environment in which the private sector can invest and in which South Africans can live a better life. "We are all in this together and together we must find solutions."

February 10 2022 — 19:00

Ramaphosa starts speaking

Bang on time, President Cyril Ramaphosa starts speaking. He reflects on the fire at parliament and the "extraordinary circumstances" in which the address is being held at Cape Town City Hall. "There are moments in the life of a natioin when old certainties are unsettled."

February 10 2022 — 18:59

'Keep your masks on'

Joint sitting of the national assembly and national council of provinces is told "Please keep your masks on". 

February 10 2022 — 18:52

President Cyril Ramaphosa arrives at the Cape Town City Hall

President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived at the Cape Town City Hall to deliver his state of the nation address. Banners outside say "Welcome to parliament".

February 10 2022 — 18:42

Police and EFF clash before Sona outside Cape Town City Hall

February 10 2022 — 18:40

Lamola expects Ramaphosa to reveal details of corruption-fighting courts

Justice minister Ronald Lamola expects President Cyril Ramaphosa to report back on the creation of four special courts dealing with corruption cases in his state of the nation address.

“The president announced after the PPE scandal that we're going to create an additional four special-crimes courts, which we have already done and which we hope will ease the congestion on the [court] roll and expedite some of the specialised commercial crimes matters, including corruption,” Lamola said on the red carpet before the event.

February 10 2022 — 18:38

‘It’s going to cost me a lot’: Finance minister steadies himself for Sona pledges

There is no money.

This was finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s response when asked whether he had the budget to implement what President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce during his state of the nation address tonight.

“I can tell you it’s going to cost me a lot,” said Godongwana, chuckling.

February 10 2022 — 17:58

ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina on this year's Sona

February 10 2022 — 17:54

WATCH | EFF’s Marshall Dlamini: ‘ANC incompetence has brought us here’

South Africans are eagerly awaiting the start of the state of the nation address (Sona) at 7pm on Thursday. President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the address, which will include his plans to bring about change in the country.

EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini told the media the change of venue was forced on them by the incompetence of the ANC.

“We are not supposed to be here. We’re supposed to be in parliament. We know we don’t have government. We have people who go there for salaries and to drink alcohol. It is incompetence that has brought us here,” he said.

February 10 2022 — 17:45

ANC MP Peace Mabe arrives at city hall

February 10 2022 — 17:34

'We have to lift people’s hopes': deputy minister Nocawe Mafu

February 10 2022 — 17:31

EFF wants parliament involved in basic income grant plan

The EFF wants a parliamentary process to guide how the country will implement a basic income grant.

The party’s deputy president Floyd Shivambu said the process cannot be left solely to the executive to make a decision, saying none of these programmes ever see the light of day.

“That discussion should not be reduced to the executive. Parliament has to engage itself in the discussions around the basic income grant. We need to start a parliamentary process of how we introduce a basic income grant, and it must be a grant, not the R350 introduced thus far," Shivambu said, speaking outside the Cape Town City Hall, where President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver his sixth state of the nation address at about 7pm.

February 10 2022 — 17:16

Nothing will happen outside, says Cele — but he can't say what will happen inside

Police minister Bheki Cele would not be drawn on what intelligence services have picked up about whether President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address could be disrupted.

Cele fielded questions from the media after addressing hundreds of police and City of Cape Town law enforcement officers at the Castle of Good Hope on Thursday.

He said the police had nothing to do with what happened inside parliament.

February 10 2022 — 17:14

Cape Town police disperse protesters ahead of Sona

Cape Town police dispersed a small group of protesters who had gathered at the corner of Darling and Corporation streets hoping to tell President Cyril Ramaphosa their grievances before the state of the nation address on Thursday evening.

The residents, some from the Cape Flats, had hoped to get a glimpse of Ramaphosa on the red carpet in front of the Cape Town city hall.

One of about 100 people, Ntombise Simelani, told TimesLIVE she wanted to plead with Ramaphosa for work.

February 10 2022 — 16:43

What to expect from Sona 2022

February 10 2022 — 16:23

EFF's Floyd Shivambu 'just here to listen to lies'

February 10 2022 — 16:22

Guests starting to arrive at city hall

February 10 2022 — 16:18

SA is safe, Bheki Cele tells cops in pre-Sona pep talk

Police minister Bheki Cele told police officers on Thursday that SA is not under attack.

Cele’s statement came just more than a month after a fire gutted parliament’s National Assembly building.

He addressed a contingent of police and City of Cape Town law enforcement officers at the Castle of Good Hope before the state of the nation address

February 10 2022 — 16:06

‘Walking bus’ protesters raise their grievances

February 10 2022 — 16:00

'We love this country': EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini

February 10 2022 — 15:48

Police presence increases around city hall

February 10 2022 — 15:46

Grand Parade completely transformed

February 10 2022 — 15:31

WATCH | Bheki Cele promises SA will be safe ahead of Sona 2022

Police minister Bheki Cele had strong words for anyone considering disrupting the state of the nation address as law enforcement maintained a strong presence in the Cape Town city centre on Thursday.

Cele addressed dozens of police officers at the Castle of Good Hope

“There have been things that make South Africans not sure whether the country is stable, whether it is under any attack. We want to ensure South Africans SA is safe, SA is stable. There are things that will happen and will be taken care of. There is no panic,” he told them.

February 10 2022 — 15:03

WATCH LIVE | Police minister Cele addresses security forces ahead of Sona 2022

Police minister General Bheki Cele addresses security forces deployed in Cape Town for the state of nation address.

February 10 2022 — 15:00

Ramaphosa readies for arguably his toughest Sona yet

President Cyril Ramaphosa goes into the 2022 state of the nation address under huge pressure.

He speaks just seven months after the deadly July riots and looting, and at a time when SA’s economy is under huge strain and infighting within the governing party is rife (particularly in the wake of a dismal performance in last year’s local government election).

Final preparations were under way on Thursday before the address, which is expected to take place at 7pm.

TimesLIVE will be running regular updates and rolling coverage of the event throughout the day, starting with some of the things SA can expect from Ramaphosa’s address:

TimesLIVE