State of the nation addresses (Sonas) over the past 15 years have been reports on what the government, mainly the national executive, has been doing to contribute to South Africa's performance. This has come across as mechanical. Ignored often is that in South Africa, the major progress issue to be tracked is how far the country is concerning what the constitution provides.
The thrust of the new constitutional order is to translate the transferred political power into economic and social cohesion benefits for society. The national objectives of nonracialism, non-sexism, democracy, national unity and prosperity should be obligatory for the government to report on. The South African constitution is about creating a society anchored on social and economic justice, human dignity, the supremacy of the constitution, the rule of law and the obligation to fulfil the Bill of Rights.
The Sona should be about progress from an apartheid-colonial past to the end state promised by the constitution. In delivering the Sona, the president should be aware that the end state of South Africa's democratic and constitutional order is the creation of a national democratic society. This recognition should factor in that the assignment to build South Africa now belongs to anyone ready to swear allegiance to the 1996 constitution and commit to defending the country's national interests.
Thus, the Sona should be about progress in using state resources to advance this nation's founding provisions and the commitments made in the constitution.
How the state mobilises its economic or otherwise power to facilitate private individuals and firms' ability to invest in the country is an attribute a good Sona should always have.
First, the state president must report on the progress of healing the divisions of the past. This must include how much of the budget has been committed to establishing a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights. The report should outline democratic values, articulate the attributes of the social and economic justice the constitution refers to, and discuss the state's progress in ensuring the living of the rights it enshrines.
Second, the Sona report must reflect on how state organs have laid “the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law”. Quantifying this provision in the constitution will help track progress towards the liberation promises of the new constitutional order.
Third, the Sona should report on progress in improving the quality of life of all citizens and how it has or is freeing each person's potential. The livelihood of citizens and how government programs are yielding a better life for all are critical measures to be reported on.
Fourth, it should show how better Africa and the world are becoming and provide an account of the overall contribution of government to this constitutional obligation on international relations and co-operation.
On the service delivery front, the Sona should reflect on how statewide planning and implementation have provided a democratic and accountable government for we the people, ensured the provision of services in a sustainable manner, promoted social and economic development, promoted a safe and healthy environment, and encouraged the involvement of we the people and our organisations in the matters of government in all its spheres.
Crucially, the Sona should be about how the state has sought to achieve the liberation promises enshrined in the constitution within its financial and administrative capacity and capabilities. How the state has commissioned citizens from within society to serve in the public service according to the normative environment anchored on professionalism, merit and ability to loyally execute the lawful policies of the government, is growing into an obligatory matter in Sona.
How the state mobilises its economic or otherwise power to facilitate private individuals and firms' ability to invest in the country is an attribute a good Sona should always have. The investment destination character of a nation is determined by how it allows the investment community to be creative with their investment to facilitate the achievement of national development planning objectives. To this end, the Sona should outline significant government infrastructural and development visions for the private sector to make investment decisions.
In the end, a good Sona should leave a nation less worried about losing control over its sovereign individual lives, pieces of identity and, most significantly, its freedoms as enshrined in its founding chronicles and manifestos.
Beyond reporting on progress on these matters, it is equally important that the president ensures that where no progress was registered, he articulates what will be done to justify state involvement. This proactive approach from the president should reassure the citizens of South Africa about the government's commitment to progress and development.
Based on the above criteria of what we should expect from a Sona, President Cyril Ramaphosa has navigated through all the areas. His comprehensive coverage of all the Sona areas should leave South African citizens feeling informed and aware of the government's activities and plans. He has left the details to the organs of the state to give programmatic states of the nation the regions in which they have the executive authority to implement. While the president has brought about shifts in how he accounts, it would be prudent to enforce accountability through advancements of reports of chapter 9 and 10 institutions in the constitution.
Overall, the 2025 Sona signals a new paradigm of accountability. This new approach to accountability should leave the citizens of South Africa feeling hopeful and optimistic about the future. The onus has always been on we the people to tell the government what policies should be and what we consider the true state of the nation in this new, exponentially changing world. For the seventth administration, the National Dialogue is a midcourse evaluation facility that should not be wasted.
• Dr FM Lucky Mathebula is a public policy analyst and the founder of The Thinc Foundation, a think-tank based in Tshwane. He is a TUT research and innovation associate.
For opinion and analysis consideration, e-mail Opinions@timeslive.co.za
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