EDITORIAL | Sona is Cyril’s chance to reverse SA’s tanking reputation

We’re not even two months into 2022 and President Cyril Ramaphosa already has a lot on his plate — as head of state and leader of the ruling party.

The Zondo commission reports released over the past six weeks will have left him under severe pressure to act on clear malfeasance within government, largely under the watch of his predecessor, Jacob Zuma, but also regarding appointments he made to his administration

Within the ANC, jostling for the presidential position ahead of the national elective conference in December is well and truly under way. Lindiwe Sisulu’s controversial columns at the start of the year are a clear indication of a fightback campaign within the party, with battle lines fast being drawn in different factions. The party’s dismal showing in November’s local government election will be adding additional pressure and calls for Ramaphosa’s head will be growing.

The ANC president has also been head of state at a time of record unemployment and a battered and bruised national economy, made worse by Covid-19. With the repo rate now likely to increase, there will be even greater pressure on SA’s populace, without much wiggle room.

Ramaphosa will need to devote himself to painting a picture of a country that is on the road to recovery, one that can look beyond political factionalism, with an economy that is primed for growth. Promises won’t cut it.

While a lot of these issues are the result of a weak administration that came before — the phrase “nine wasted years” springs to mind — and were worsened by the coronavirus pandemic, as president Ramaphosa must be the focal point of the problems.

Then, amid all this context, the report into the deadly July unrest released on Monday painted a picture of a state so flawed its citizens were left to fend for themselves as riots and looting broke out across mostly KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. More than 300 died and R50bn was “wiped” from SA’s already reeling economy.

Among some of the telling findings of the panel of experts, there’s an 11-word sentence that makes for sombre reading.

“The image of South Africa as a stable country was marred.”

While this specifically references the aftermath of the looting, it is something that rings true across the board due to political and economic instability in SA.

It is in this context that Ramaphosa must deliver the state of the nation address (Sona) on Thursday. Perhaps being at a new venue — the Cape Town city hall after the devastating parliament fire — will provide a fresh platform for a hard-hitting and much-needed address.

Ramaphosa will need to devote himself to painting a picture of a country that is on the road to recovery, one that can look beyond political factionalism, with an economy that is primed for growth. Promises won’t cut it.

Thursday is Ramaphosa’s chance to step up to the plate. Of all his Sonas so far, this one is arguably the most crucial. If he fails to inspire confidence, the consequences could be dire.