Podcasts about nation address sona

Let's dive into this two important topics: the public's expectations surrounding the State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the growing issue of illegal opioid importation into Ghana. We explore how SONA plays a key role in shaping national policy and the implications of the opioid crisis, discussing its impact on public health, security, and the country's efforts to combat illegal drug trade. Listen for an insightful conversation on these pressing issues

South Africa’s Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) for the five-year period to 2029 will incorporate the 3% GDP growth target announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) last week. Lindsay Martin, Acting DDG- National Planning Coordination. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicholas Lorimer, Makone Maja and Marius Roodt discuss the State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2025. They also discuss MK's financial troubles and a weird advert from the department of health. Website · Facebook · Instagram · Twitter

Michael Morris and Nicholas Lorimer discuss the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) and its impact on the lives of South Africans. ------------------- Hudaco Energy is thrilled to offer Daily Friend listeners an exclusive promotion! Book a free or business or household audit, and we'll show you how we put more money back in your pocket without hefty upfront costs. Reach out to us at sales@hudacoenergy.co.za or call us at 011 447 9864. Hudaco Energy – Sustainable Power and Storage Solutions Provider Website · Facebook · Instagram · Twitter

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, 6 February 2025 at 7pm. The address will take place before a joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament. The theme for the 2025 SONA is a “A nation that works, for all”. The address is an important milestone as it brings certainty to the country’s political, social and economic landscape. It demonstrates that South Africa’s democracy remains robust. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM SONA TODAY: It’s our first GNU State of the Nation There is the DRC situation Economy & Jobs Schools Trump See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Final preparations are underway at the Cape Town City Hall ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address (SONA). Ramaphosa will tonight (Thursday evening) deliver the first SONA under the umbrella of the Government of National Unity (GNU). It comes two weeks after a two-day Cabinet lekgotla, where the final details of the president's speech were concluded. Clarence Ford speaks to Prof Ntsikilelo Breakfast political analyst and Daniel Silke political economic analyst. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As South Africans eagerly await President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address (SONA) today, the country's economic challenges remain a pressing concern. With unemployment rates soaring to 33.5% and poverty affecting nearly half of the adult population, political parties are calling on the President to address these issues head-on. Elvis Presslin spoke to Thokozile Madonko, Researcher at the Wits University's Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, to share her expectations for the SONA

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) later this evening. This SONA is particularly significant, as it marks Ramaphosa's first address as leader of the Government of National Unity (GNU). As the nation holds its breath, eager to hear his plans for addressing the country's pressing economic and political challenges, Elvis Presslin spoke to Political analyst, Tessa Dooms, for her insights on the SONA

The Presiding Officers of Parliament, led by National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza and National Council of Provinces Chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, earlier held a media briefing to provide an update on Parliament’s preparations for the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Former EFF MP and KZN leader Vusi Khoza says EFF MP Dr. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi will be removed from Parliament before the State of the Nation Address (SONA) next year. This prediction comes on the heels of Khoza's own expulsion from the party for allegedly failing to organize transportation for supporters to attend the EFF's 10th-anniversary celebration. According to Khoza, Ndlozi's removal is imminent due to his alleged absence from the party's conference. This assertion is bolstered by EFF leader Julius Malema's recent remarks, in which he stated that anyone that was absent from the party's elective conference cannot be considered a leader. Mr. Khoza spoke to Elvis Presslin to elaborate further on his sentiments

In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. tackled issues on rising cost of basic goods, climate change, territorial sovereignty, and the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO). - Sa kanyang ikatlong State of the Nation Address (SONA), tinalakay ni Pangulong Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ang mga isyu sa pagtaas ng halaga ng mga pangunahing bilihin, climate change, soberanya ng teritoryo, at pagbabawal sa Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).

Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City this Monday, July 22, at 4 p.m. Filipinos from various sectors are anticipating that the SONA will address their concerns and are expecting to see progress with President Marcos's previous promises. In this concern, Mr. Jemy Gatdula, Dean of the Institute of Law at the University of Asia and the Pacific and an opinion columnist for BusinessWorld, has shared his insights on the accomplishments and progress made by the Marcos administration during its term. He also discussed issues from various sectors that remain unaddressed or are still pending, which the Marcos administration could further address.

Mfundo Nkuhlu, Nedbank Group COO, and host Mother Khoaripe explore inclusive transformation in South Africa, discussing business expectations from the new administration, the State of the Nation Address (SONA), and the tasks ahead for this administration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament experienced a power outage today, Thursday, February 29, during the day's proceedings. The legislators were debating President Akufo-Addo's recent State of the Nation Address (SONA).

President Akufo-Addo is set to deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) to Parliament today, Tuesday, February 27, in accordance with Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution.

President Akufo-Addo is set to deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) to Parliament today, Tuesday, February 27, in accordance with Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a leading supplier of products, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy reports that the Climate Change Response Fund announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) has been established to support the development of early-warning systems, as well as for adaptation projects to improve the climate resiliency of infrastructure amid the growing threats posed by extreme weather events. Addressing the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) in Johannesburg, Creecy said that there was also potential to use the fund as a "channel" for financial resources that could be made available to developing countries following the recent operationalisation of a loss and damage fund. The loss and damage fund was established at the recent COP28 climate talks, held in the United Arab Emirates, where initial funding commitments of $700-million were announced. In his SoNA speech, Ramaphosa highlighted several recent climate-related disasters, including "devastating wildfires in the Western Cape, destructive floods in KwaZulu-Natal, unbearable heatwaves in the Northern Cape, persistent drought in the Eastern Cape, and intense storms in Gauteng". He said the Climate Change Response Fund would be established to help "build our resilience and respond to the impacts of climate change" but did not provide further details, including on where it would be housed and how it would be funded. Creecy told the PCC that consideration was being given to hosting the fund either at the Development Bank of Southern Africa or the Industrial Development Corporation, but provided no timeframe from its implementation. She confirmed that government would set aside some resources to capitalise the fund but indicated that the intention was to also crowd-in private finance in a manner similar to the Solidarity Fund that was set up during the Covid-19 pandemic. Resources secured for the fund would be used to strengthen the country's early-warning systems for detecting extreme weather events, with Creecy noting that there were growing domestic and international examples of how the use of such systems had been effective in preventing the loss of life. Proceeds would also be directed towards adapting infrastructure to make it more resilient to events such as wildfires and floods, as well as to safeguard water and food security in the aftermath of weather-related disasters. Such adaptation efforts, the Minister added, could also help ensure that climate-related loss and damage did not become a "bottomless pit" for municipalities and provinces, which currently relied on disaster-management allocations to finance relief efforts. Creecy also indicated that the Climate Change Response Fund would complement the Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan (JET-IP), which was focused on climate mitigation investments rather than adaptation. Ramaphosa announced in his SoNA that financing pledges for the JET-IP had increased from about R170-billion to almost R240-billion, amid growing calls for the proceeds to be used specifically for energy-related or upliftment projects. The bulk of the JET-IP transfers to date having been directed to the National Treasury in the form of policy loans that have been used to lower the overall cost of borrowing.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a leading supplier of products, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy reports that the Climate Change Response Fund announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) has been established to support the development of early-warning systems, as well as for adaptation projects to improve the climate resiliency of infrastructure amid the growing threats posed by extreme weather events. Addressing the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) in Johannesburg, Creecy said that there was also potential to use the fund as a "channel" for financial resources that could be made available to developing countries following the recent operationalisation of a loss and damage fund. The loss and damage fund was established at the recent COP28 climate talks, held in the United Arab Emirates, where initial funding commitments of $700-million were announced. In his SoNA speech, Ramaphosa highlighted several recent climate-related disasters, including "devastating wildfires in the Western Cape, destructive floods in KwaZulu-Natal, unbearable heatwaves in the Northern Cape, persistent drought in the Eastern Cape, and intense storms in Gauteng". He said the Climate Change Response Fund would be established to help "build our resilience and respond to the impacts of climate change" but did not provide further details, including on where it would be housed and how it would be funded. Creecy told the PCC that consideration was being given to hosting the fund either at the Development Bank of Southern Africa or the Industrial Development Corporation, but provided no timeframe from its implementation. She confirmed that government would set aside some resources to capitalise the fund but indicated that the intention was to also crowd-in private finance in a manner similar to the Solidarity Fund that was set up during the Covid-19 pandemic. Resources secured for the fund would be used to strengthen the country's early-warning systems for detecting extreme weather events, with Creecy noting that there were growing domestic and international examples of how the use of such systems had been effective in preventing the loss of life. Proceeds would also be directed towards adapting infrastructure to make it more resilient to events such as wildfires and floods, as well as to safeguard water and food security in the aftermath of weather-related disasters. Such adaptation efforts, the Minister added, could also help ensure that climate-related loss and damage did not become a "bottomless pit" for municipalities and provinces, which currently relied on disaster-management allocations to finance relief efforts. Creecy also indicated that the Climate Change Response Fund would complement the Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan (JET-IP), which was focused on climate mitigation investments rather than adaptation. Ramaphosa announced in his SoNA that financing pledges for the JET-IP had increased from about R170-billion to almost R240-billion, amid growing calls for the proceeds to be used specifically for energy-related or upliftment projects. The bulk of the JET-IP transfers to date having been directed to the National Treasury in the form of policy loans that have been used to lower the overall cost of borrowing.

In 2024, the single greatest threat to South Africa's democracy, freedom, and to the South African dream, is the African National Congress (ANC). So said Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen in the debate on the President's State of the Nation Address (SoNA), on Tuesday. President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his eighth SoNA last week, in which he told the story of Tintswalo, a child of democracy, born in 1994, and meant to represent someone who had reaped the benefits of freedom, under the ANC government. In his SoNA debate speech, Steenhuisen took up Ramaphosa's analogy, drawing out the rest of Tintswalo's hypothetical life under ANC rule. He said while her childhood may have begun with hope and a promise for a better life, as an adult, Tintswalo had felt the effects of corruption over many years, as well as crime and poverty, dashing her hopes for a better life. "She lost her livelihood, her home, and her father. Her South African dream lay in ruins. Tintswalo is done waiting for the ANC to change. She has accepted that it never will. She acknowledges the opportunities she got as a young person, which her parents never had. But she now thinks about the future of her own family above all else. You see, Mr President, like millions of other South Africans, Tintswalo cannot afford to live in the past. She must survive in the reality of what South Africa is in 2024, not in the memory of what South Africa was in 1994. For here is the hard truth, Mr President, whether you like it or not: you have betrayed Tintswalo's South African dream," Steenhuisen said. Using other stories, he went on to lay out other scenarios of hardship that other South Africans might be facing, such as gang violence, unemployment, a lack of energy and water, hunger, a crumbling port system and vital skills fleeing the country for better opportunities. Steenhuisen continued his election-focussed speech by stating that the ANC must be removed from power. "When the ANC says that 2024 is the year we must defend our freedom, they are right. We must defend our freedom - from the ANC," he said. He called out Ramaphosa for allegedly protecting his deputy, Paul Mashatile, who has been accused of corruption and said such a President was an existential threat to freedom. Steenhuisen stressed the importance of voting in the upcoming elections and had a clear message for Ramaphosa. "Mr President, you recently made the baseless and dangerous claim that mysterious foreign agents want to bring about "regime change" in South Africa. Let me assure you: what is coming your way in this election, is not regime change by foreigners. It is democratic change, by the people of South Africa. Voting out a failed governing party is not a threat to democracy. It is the ultimate vindication of democracy. And it is the only way to rescue our South African dream," Steenhuisen said. The DA leader pointed out his party's 'blueprint to rescue South Africa', which was recently announced and promised comprehensive legislative reforms. He presented the DA as the alternative to the ANC, particularly in light of the recent Constitutional Court ruling which required the ANC to hand over the records of its cadre deployment committee to the DA within five days. The DA is hoping to use the records to show that the committee set the foundation for State capture and is the reason for a collapse of service delivery. Steenhuisen said he expected the ANC to abide by the court ruling and also claimed that Ramaphosa would also be implicated in State capture, once the records were handed over. "After all the damage and destruction wrought during the 15 wasted years under [former President Jacob] Zuma and Ramaphosa, the 2024 election is sadly not yet about truly fulfilling the dream of 1994. Instead, this election is about keeping the dream alive," the DA leader said. He warned of a dead dream for South Africa if the ANC clung to power, particularly through a coalition with the Economic Freedom Fi...

In his speech, on Tuesday, in the debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address (SoNA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Velenkosini Hlabisa painted a harsh picture of the African National Congress (ANC) and the challenges facing the country under its leadership. He noted former IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi's last message to the ANC - "If the promise of South Africa is truly still alive, it is thanks to the resilience of our people. But how far is this Government willing to test our resilience? They are playing a dangerous game" - and said the ANC was moving in the wrong direction. Hlabisa pointed out that the ANC did not come into democracy and freedom by itself and lamented the passing of the Government of National Unity, which he said gave South Africans hope after the end of Apartheid. He stated that between 1994 and 1999, under the leadership of a Government of National unity, South Africa had flourished. He pointed out the progress made by that government through the passing of landmark legislation, growing skills and investment, and finding a balance between human rights and national security. Hlabisa quoted the International Monetary Fund's perception of South Africa in the first ten years of democracy, as a country that had made "impressive gains" to stabilise the economy, set up higher economic growth and strengthen finances and that since the ANC's sole governance, the perception of a well-performing economy had waned. He reminded Ramaphosa that the ANC did not govern alone between 1994 and 1999 and so, he said, that period could not be a measure of the ANC's success alone. He said it was only when the ANC gained unfettered power that the quality of good governance began to decline. "So no, Honourable President, do not keep telling us what the ANC has done since 1994. Again, the ANC did not liberate South Africa nor build democracy alone. But the ANC did, when given the chance, destroy the economy single-handedly. The ruling party did create the conditions for crime to flourish and for corruption to run rampant through the public service. You did cripple the education system and the healthcare system, destroying our hope of building our future," Hlabisa said. He blamed Ramaphosa for continued economic decline under the ANC government and an increase in crime. Hlabisa said while the IFP supported initiatives such as universal healthcare, the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill that the ANC government wanted to pass into law would be a "recipe for disaster". "The [Health] Minister has already confirmed that government does not have the funds to hire doctors. The NHI Bill has been overwhelmingly rejected by the healthcare sector, business and the opposition. Like Outcomes-based Education, which handicapped our education system and had to be abandoned, the NHI will cripple our health sector," he warned. SA IS IN CRISIS Hlabisa echoed Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen's call for change through voting and said, "It truly is now or never." He stated that the country was on autopilot and in crisis, and he accused Ramaphosa of putting the ANC ahead of the country. He dismissed another five years of ANC rule and said the IFP was ready to govern. "We did it in 1994. And the IFP is ready to do it in 2024. We will do it with our votes," he said. Hlabisa, like Steenhusien, hit back against Ramaphosa's story of Tintswalo, a child of democracy, born in 1994, and meant to represent someone who had reaped the benefits of freedom, under the ANC government. "Tintswalo's story is not the story of today's youth. Unlike Tintswalo, 41% of our youth are unemployed. Thousands of NSFAS beneficiaries are sitting at home with their degrees and diplomas, without jobs. Their dreams are fading away. Millions of children of democracy still live in shacks and informal settlements, with no clean water, toilets or refuse removal. Their only connection to Tintswalo, is that she, too, sits vulnerable in the dark, o...

Lindsay Dentlinger/ EWN Reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Monday formally laid criminal charges against Deputy President Paul Mashatile, after allegations of corruption, spanning almost two decades, were levelled against him. It has been reported that Mashatile's son-in-law Nceba Nonkwelo purchased a R28.9-million home in Constantia, Cape Town, last year through one of his companies, Bilcosat. Between March and May 2023, Nonkwelo, through his business entities, funded the purchase of properties allegedly for Mashatile's benefit, worth R65.9-million. DA leader John Steenhuisen said the integrity of the South African government was laughable when the country's second in command had such a large cloud of dire corruption allegations hanging over his head. "President [Cyril] Ramaphosa can no longer bury his head in the sand and hope it will somehow blow over. There now exists more than sufficient evidence to suggest that Paul Mashatile is, and has been, involved in egregious corruption during his tenure of various executive positions over the past two decades, and it is now time for him to face the consequences," said Steenhuisen. He said as South Africa approached a "'hinge of history' election later this year", citizens could not allow the African National Congress (ANC) government to deflect from the fact that most State failure and every service collapse could be directly traced to State capture and severe corruption that had become endemic under the ANC. Steenhuisen said the DA had also submitted a formal complaint against Mashatile to Parliament's Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests for a breach of the Members' Code of Conduct, for failure to disclose registrable interests, or for wilfully or grossly negligently providing the Registrar with incorrect or misleading details. "Mashatile also faces allegations for having misled Parliament by failing to properly declare his use of various properties, including a R37-million Waterfall house in Gauteng. In addition to this, Mashatile also breached the Code of Conduct by failing to act in all respects in a manner that is consistent with the integrity of their office or the government," he said. Given that the appointment of the Deputy President was made solely at the discretion of the President, last week the DA submitted a dossier of allegations levelled against Mashatile to the Union Buildings for the attention of Ramaphosa. The DA gave Ramaphosa a week to act against Mashatile, urging him to use the 2024 State of the Nation Address (SoNA) to declare the removal of Mashatile from his executive, and to submit him for a full Special Investigating Unit investigation. However, Steenhuisen said it came as no surprise that Ramaphosa had done nothing to act against the "corrupt cadres within his government" and within his own party. Steenhuisen pointed out that had Ramaphosa instituted lifestyle audits for his Cabinet ministers, as promised in his first SoNA, all allegations levelled against Mashatile would have come to light for the requisite action to be taken. FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS Meanwhile, Steenhuisen said the work of journalists should not be ignored, explaining that in addition to laying criminal charges against Mashatile the DA was seeking an appointment with the Hawks, which were already involved in an investigation with other several matters related to Mashatile. The DA will seek to supplement the Hawks' case with matters outlined in the charge sheet. "We believe that it is in the interest of South Africa for President Cyril Ramaphosa to break his silence about his deputy. He cannot continue to act as if nothing is wrong and everything is all right. This is a huge scandal that is enveloping the Presidency. You cannot stand before the nation at the State of the Nation Address and talk about combating corruption and getting at the bottom of graft and eliminating State capture in the country, when the very person occupying the office across from you at the Union Buildings has himself got t...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a leading supplier of products, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has move to defend the statement made by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on Thursday night that "the end of loadshedding is finally within reach". This, despite South Africa rapidly descending into Stage 6 loadshedding only hours after the conclusion of the speech and the prospect of ongoing high levels of power disruptions until at least Wednesday. Speaking as a hastily convened briefing - moved to Sunday instead of the Monday morning initially scheduled for the Minister's regular update on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan - Ramokgopa refused to accept that the President's statement had caused any embarrassment. Instead, he argued that the SoNA statement was in line with both his repeated assertions that the "corner had been turned", as well as a fact-based analysis of loadshedding trends, which he even went as far as to suggest pointed to Eskom "outperforming" against its summer plan that warned of ongoing loadshedding at Stage 4. "So, I really don't understand what is meant by [the SoNA statement being] embarrassing," he remarked in response to a question posed by Engineering News. He then highlighted that Eskom and government had regularly noted the "inherent risk" of periods of intense loadshedding given the commitment that "no corners would be cut" on planned maintenance or safety, notwithstanding the propensity for unplanned outages across the poorly maintained and aged coal fleet. Claims of sabotage made by ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula were downplayed, but not entirely dismissed, with Ramokgopa indicating that Eskom continued to investigate any suspicious incident with the help of the law-enforcement agencies. But he also expressed confidence in the Eskom leadership, management and workers and their commitment to ending loadshedding. Eskom head of generation Bheki Nxumalo indicated that the rapid deterioration that led to a series of changes to the intensity of loadshedding after the President's address - initially from Stage 2 to Stage 3 at 22:00, then to Stage 4 at 2:00 and then later to Stage 6 - had been triggered by the failure of two 800 MW-apiece units at Medupi and high levels of boiler tube leaks across nine power stations, which collectively reduce supply by 4 400 MW. One of the Medupi units was removed from service as Ramaphosa was wrapping up his address, because of a chain used to help remove ash from the boiler had failed. A second Medupi unit tripped soon afterwards, resulting in unplanned outages spiking to above 17 600 MW and the declaration of Stage 6. Planned outages stood at above 6 700 MW at the time of the declaration, while partial load losses were above 6 200 MW. Ramokgopa indicated that the intensity of loadshedding should reduce materially by Wednesday and immediately following the Sunday briefing, Eskom announced Stage 5 loadshedding, despite unplanned breakdowns of above 17 500 MW and planned maintenance of more than 6 800 MW. Eskom said the modest de-escalation in loadshedding was facilitated by Eskom having "successfully replenished its pumped storage dam levels", as well as the return of some other generation units. Nxumalo insisted the generation business remained focused on achieving an energy availability factor of 65% by the end of its financial year on March 31, and denied that the target had been to achieve an average EAF of 65% for the entire 2023/24 period. The EAF has been on a declining trend for several years and dropped to a dismal 54% last year, well below even the disputed EAF recovery targets set by the Eskom board. The net result was South Africa's worst-ever year for loadshedding.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a leading supplier of products, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has move to defend the statement made by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on Thursday night that "the end of loadshedding is finally within reach". This, despite South Africa rapidly descending into Stage 6 loadshedding only hours after the conclusion of the speech and the prospect of ongoing high levels of power disruptions until at least Wednesday. Speaking as a hastily convened briefing - moved to Sunday instead of the Monday morning initially scheduled for the Minister's regular update on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan - Ramokgopa refused to accept that the President's statement had caused any embarrassment. Instead, he argued that the SoNA statement was in line with both his repeated assertions that the "corner had been turned", as well as a fact-based analysis of loadshedding trends, which he even went as far as to suggest pointed to Eskom "outperforming" against its summer plan that warned of ongoing loadshedding at Stage 4. "So, I really don't understand what is meant by [the SoNA statement being] embarrassing," he remarked in response to a question posed by Engineering News. He then highlighted that Eskom and government had regularly noted the "inherent risk" of periods of intense loadshedding given the commitment that "no corners would be cut" on planned maintenance or safety, notwithstanding the propensity for unplanned outages across the poorly maintained and aged coal fleet. Claims of sabotage made by ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula were downplayed, but not entirely dismissed, with Ramokgopa indicating that Eskom continued to investigate any suspicious incident with the help of the law-enforcement agencies. But he also expressed confidence in the Eskom leadership, management and workers and their commitment to ending loadshedding. Eskom head of generation Bheki Nxumalo indicated that the rapid deterioration that led to a series of changes to the intensity of loadshedding after the President's address - initially from Stage 2 to Stage 3 at 22:00, then to Stage 4 at 2:00 and then later to Stage 6 - had been triggered by the failure of two 800 MW-apiece units at Medupi and high levels of boiler tube leaks across nine power stations, which collectively reduce supply by 4 400 MW. One of the Medupi units was removed from service as Ramaphosa was wrapping up his address, because of a chain used to help remove ash from the boiler had failed. A second Medupi unit tripped soon afterwards, resulting in unplanned outages spiking to above 17 600 MW and the declaration of Stage 6. Planned outages stood at above 6 700 MW at the time of the declaration, while partial load losses were above 6 200 MW. Ramokgopa indicated that the intensity of loadshedding should reduce materially by Wednesday and immediately following the Sunday briefing, Eskom announced Stage 5 loadshedding, despite unplanned breakdowns of above 17 500 MW and planned maintenance of more than 6 800 MW. Eskom said the modest de-escalation in loadshedding was facilitated by Eskom having "successfully replenished its pumped storage dam levels", as well as the return of some other generation units. Nxumalo insisted the generation business remained focused on achieving an energy availability factor of 65% by the end of its financial year on March 31, and denied that the target had been to achieve an average EAF of 65% for the entire 2023/24 period. The EAF has been on a declining trend for several years and dropped to a dismal 54% last year, well below even the disputed EAF recovery targets set by the Eskom board. The net result was South Africa's worst-ever year for loadshedding.

A “defeated” President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a “disaster” State of the Nation Address (SONA)  as his “worst nemesis” former President Jacob Zuma is staging a spectacular comeback. Neil De Beer, the president of the United Independent Movement (UIM), a party in the Multi-Party Charter (MPC), dissects the SONA for BizNews. He also lambasts the “outgoing” President for lying about corruption and loadshedding, and labels him a “very sad indiviual” and a “coward” who is living in “La La Cuckoo Land”. De Beer warns that Ramaphosa will have to call the national election earlier rather than later “because he cannot keep the country together” - and “every day he doesn't call the date, MK is growing…” Moreover, he thinks Ramaphosa - who once called the Multi-Party Charter “a nothing, a null on a contract - has just realised that 50 plus 1 is possible” for the MPC. - Chris Steyn

Political parties and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa's 2024 State of the Nation Address (SoNA), saying it is fraught with big promises that show no sign of learning from past mistakes or changing course. Ramaphosa delivered his eighth SoNA on Thursday evening at the Cape Town City Hall. Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen said Ramaphosa had not kept any of his promises made in his previous SoNAs and that he had not tabled any pragmatic, workable legislation to realise his 'New Dawn'. Steenhuisen stated that the South African economy had all but flatlined, with no new jobs, worsened corruption and crime, and millions of starving children. He noted that 30 years of African National Congress (ANC) national government had caused the country's economy to stagnate and had led to significant fiscal restraint - "an environment in which the ANC is now pursuing desperate and populist measures such as tapping into the Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account of the Reserve Bank, essentially killing any economic buffer for the country against unforeseen external market shocks," he stated. Steenhuisen said a looming tax hike under the ANC would be the final nail in the coffin for millions of South African households struggling to put food on the table. He said South Africa needed a complete reprioritisation of its national Budget that cut away Cabinet perks and a bloated public wage bill, and that redirected money towards paying better social grants that met the food poverty line, fixed the electricity crisis by embracing privatisation, invested in education, and embraced policies that liberated the economy to fast-track growth and job creation. NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE In his speech, Ramaphosa noted that government was planning to incrementally implement the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI), the Bill for which awaits his signature. The DA said that by embracing the NHI Bill, Ramaphosa was taking a wrecking ball to the country's public health system, driving skilled doctors and medical personnel from the country, and killing South Africa's status as a world leader in healthcare innovation. He said the NHI could be pushed through Parliament when government could afford to employ and place the country's existing graduate doctors. "Furthermore, we cannot embrace NHI when the ANC cannot even feed our children. According to the Eastern Cape Department of Health, 1 722 children under the age of five in the province were newly diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition between August 2022 and September 2023. Of these, 114 have died," said Steenhuisen. Civil rights interest group AfriForum highlighted that Ramaphosa's "search for a pen" to sign the impugned NHI Bill was a shameful attempt to use the false promise of better health care to win a few votes. Solidarity said it considered the promise of "free healthcare" to be another empty promise but one with very serious consequences. "It is clear that the government, regardless of their hopeless track record, is appropriating even more power for itself. This is taking place while South Africans actually need the federal devolution of power to communities," it said. STATE CAPTURE, CORRUPTION AND CRIME ActionSA president Herman Mashaba said the SoNA was a "political sleight of hand", where Ramaphosa appropriated the progress of the ruling party made under Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki while distancing himself from its failures and corruption during President Jacob Zuma's State Capture era. He said South Africans struggling with unemployment, rampant crime, and continuous rolling blackouts "know the truth that belies this rhetoric". "The reality outside the Ramaverse is that the President's superficial, low-impact interventions have done little to demonstrate real accountability for corruption, address rolling blackouts, improve educational outcomes, or grow our job-killing economy," said Mashaba. He ...

The Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Friday that its manifesto launch, ahead of the 2024 national elections, would not be symbolic, but that it would be a "genuine statement of intent". The party will launch its manifesto in Pretoria on Saturday and will see DA supporters march to the Union Buildings, where DA leader John Steenhuisen will address the crowd. Following a lukewarm response to President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on Thursday night, the DA said its manifesto would not be a set of empty promises, but rather a "well-researched", "data-driven" document that zeros in on ways to cut wasteful expenditure, open the electricity sector to private enterprise for stable supply, invest in education and create an environment for economic growth. The party believes its manifesto launch will be the biggest in South Africa's political history and hopes to use its vision to "rescue South Africa". "In the last five years, we have witnessed the decay and decline of South Africa. President Ramaphosa's promises, particularly on ending loadshedding, have proven to be nothing but empty rhetoric. The numbers paint a grim picture - rising poverty, swelling unemployment queues, and corruption reaching unprecedented levels. 'Tintswalo', the child of democracy, is not living the dream promised by the ANC. The hope of a 'New Dawn' has faded into a dusk of despair. Our children are starving, crime is rampant, and our health system is crumbling," the party said. It said the upcoming election would be a reset for South Africa. The DA said its manifesto was created on a foundation of new research and new economic thinking for practical and workable solutions to solve the country's challenges. The DA said its Multi-Party Charter with fellow political cohorts was the government in waiting. "As President Ramaphosa delivered his last SoNA, we bid farewell to an era of stagnation. It's time for a new government, a government led by the Democratic Alliance, a government that will put the people first. The DA's manifesto launch is not just an event, it's a historic moment, a rallying cry for change," the party said.

The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) research and policy programme Jan Hofmeyer noted on Friday that regardless of impediments experienced, South Africa has come a long way, moving from an era of pessimism, division, limited opportunities, turmoil and conflict, to a new era of hope, reconciliation and nation building. Hofmeyer was speaking during IJR's webinar on national politics and South Africa's role as global peacemaker: the dynamics of the 2024 elections, where he unpacked President Cyril Ramaphosa's Thursday night State of the Nation Address (SoNA). Hofmeyer pointed out that 2024 is an important year as South Africa celebrates thirty years of democracy and as voters head to the polls later this year. He noted that in his SoNA, Ramaphosa used the story of Tintswalo, South Africa's child of democracy, to describe some of the interventions that government has made over thirty years, since the end of Apartheid. Hofmeyer said Ramaphosa is right in that people now have the freedom to express their rights and to make their own choices. However, he noted that Ramaphosa had made factual errors in his speech, around the country's developmental statistics. Ramaphosa highlighted that by 2010, the poverty rate had dropped to 60.9%, and it continued to decrease, reaching 55.5% in 2020, as reported by the World Bank. "Unfortunately there are no funds at the moment to replicate these statics to where we are now, but we know we have had an economic slowdown, Covid-19 in between, mostly that figure is much higher than 55%," Hofmeyer said. He said, in fact, the World Bank, which Ramaphosa quoted, estimated 62%. He said South Africa is where it was in 2009. Meanwhile, he noted that there was still conflict between government and business and now social compact. " He said it was quite ironically for Ramaphosa to say that he noted how South Africans stood up against State capture and how it was overcome. "…And how our society has been resilient. For me it was somehow ironic because if your measure of progress has been how you are able to push back on a process that was started by own party, I think that does not signify progress," Hofmeyer said.

Ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address (SoNA), this evening, the African National Congress (ANC) assured that it remains steadfast in its resolve to overcome challenges facing the country and to continue steering South Africa toward prosperity. Ramaphosa will deliver his eighth SoNA with many expectations from citizens, political parties and business. The ANC said Ramaphosa would be delivering the address amidst progress and challenges. "This year's State of the Nation Address is expected to reflect on the gains we have made as a nation as well as affirm our determination to defend our democracy from opportunistic elements that are set on undermining the unstoppable programme of transformation. The address must be a beacon of hope as it accounts on commitments made whilst pointing us all in the direction that must now be taken to transform South Africa in the interest of a better life for all," said the ANC. NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE BILL The ANC also asserted its commitment to bring the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) to fruition. It said it "strongly" supports the NHI Bill as a vital step towards achieving universal healthcare coverage. The Bill was processed by the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces last year and sent to the President to be signed into law. The NHI Bill was met with criticism, however, with business groups pushing Ramaphosa to delay signing it into law, saying that it did not pass constitutional muster and would likely lead to many legal and social troubles down the line. In an open statement to Ramaphosa, Business Unity South Africa and Businesses for South Africa petitioned the President to first test the constitutionality of the NHI Bill before signing it into law. However, the ANC believes that by pooling resources and addressing disparities, the NHl will improve health outcomes nationwide. Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya noted that Ramaphosa was still considering the NHI Bill and that the President's legal advisers were looking at the proposed legislation. SOUTH AFRICAN SUCCESS Meanwhile, the ANC said that it also celebrated the country's achievements on the global stage, from "asserting moral leadership" to showcasing the talents of South Africans in sports and in music. "Despite global shocks like the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical unrest, South Africa's resilience shines through, propelling us on an upward trajectory despite economic setbacks. This year's State of the Nation marks the culmination of an extraordinary term of office characterised by several severe global shocks, as well as the rise of South Africa's prominence as an international moral authority on the global stage," the ANC said. The party noted that the sixth administration faced the daunting task of reinvigorating and fortifying the State, which It said had been weakened by corruption and counter-revolutionary elements. Through concerted efforts, the ANC said significant progress has been made in combating corruption and rebuilding State institutions. The party said that the ANC-led government had dramatically improved access to education from early childhood right through to post-school education. Nearly every young person aged 15 to 24 years of age is literate, and adult literacy now stands at 85%, up from only 64% in 1996. "Today we have a growing black and skilled professional sector. Many interventions have been introduced, including school fee exemption, the school nutrition programme and scholar transport which ensures that poverty does not stand in the way of children's access to quality education. It is this administration that has seen the highest percentage of people writing matric and passing matric, a testament to the ANC's commitment to education for all," the party pointed out.

Lead: A Preview to SONA 2024 Dr Ralph Mathekga | Political Analyst   The State of the Nation Address (SONA) is called in terms of Section 42(5) of the Constitution by the President of the Republic. It is a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament and one of the rare occasions that bring together the three arms of the State under one roof. SONA provides the President with an opportunity to speak to the nation on the general state of South Africa, to reflect on a wide range of political, economic and social matters within the domestic and global contexts, to account to the nation on the work of Government and to set out Government's program of action. Traditionally, the President makes key Government announcements during this important joint sitting of Parliament. It is a ceremonial joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, called specifically for the President to deliver his SONA and no other business may be considered on this day. SONA usually takes place during February and is presided over by the Speaker and/or the Chairperson of the Council, by arrangement between them. During the week following the SONA, a debate of approximately two days is held on the SONA. The President is then given an opportunity to reply to the debate on the third day and to close the debate. The SONA is one of the major general debates of the parliamentary year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This evening, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will turn its attention to preparations for the launch of its manifesto this weekend, as the country watches President Cyril Ramaphosa deliver his eighth State of the Nation Address (SoNA). All EFF members of Parliament will boycott the SoNA in solidarity with the leaders that were barred from attending, following a High Court ruling. Last year, EFF members stormed the stage during Ramaphosa's SoNA, in contravention of Parliament's rules. They were suspended, without pay, from Parliamentary activities for February. The EFF said on Thursday that it rejected with contempt the court ruling and called it a suppression of democracy and constitutional accountability in South Africa. The party plans to appeal the ruling. "It is evident and certainly beyond reasonable doubt, that the courts continue to be part of the Ramaphosa defence mob, whose primary and sole aim is to protect the racist white capitalist establishment. Courts in South Africa have been reduced to being part of the Ramaphosa defence mob because he is a representative and puppet of the white capitalist establishment," the EFF stated. The party further went on to claim that the judiciary was captured by politicians. The EFF says it will now focus on the launch of its election manifesto, which is set to take place in Durban on Saturday. It revealed that the manifesto would address 30 years of "systemic failures" by the African National Congress (ANC) and present a plan of action. "We call on our Ground Forces to pay maximum and optimal attention to work on the ground until election victory. No amount of intimidation and no amount of apartheid-like suppression of our democratic rights will prevent us from consolidating the ground towards a socialist future. We are the generation that this country has been waiting for, and we shall overcome!" the party said.

Build One South Africa (BOSA) will host a gathering of the unemployed outside City Hall in Cape Town ahead of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) tomorrow (Thursday). BOSA Leader Mmusi Maimane says the unemployment line is 11 million and growing - so the unemployed need to be heard. Elvis Presslin spoke to BOSA leader, Mmusi Maimane

Ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on Thursday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) is hoping that he outlines practical steps government will be taking to cushion consumers from the rising cost of living, particularly the cost of fuel. On Wednesday, petrol and diesel will increase by 75c and 73c per litre respectively, with Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe saying the adjustments are based on current local and international factors. DA Shadow Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Kevin Mileham explained that with consumers already struggling to make ends meet owing to escalating cost pressures from food, electricity and transport, the fuel price increase would be devastating for many. Mileham noted that Ramaphosa should "show leadership" and use his SoNA to provide urgent relief to struggling consumers, saying the African National Congress (ANC) government had spent the past five years evading the subject of unsustainable fuel taxes and levies, "despite clear evidence" these added surcharges on fuel were choking the economy and making life difficult for consumers. The DA has consistently called for a comprehensive review of the fuel price determination model, with particular emphasis on fuel taxes and levies, to bring it in line with international best practices. The party wants Ramaphosa to clearly outline how his government will review the fuel price framework and the corresponding tax system which have inflated the fuel retail price and driven up the cost of living. "Anything short of this is further proof that the ANC is no longer fit to govern, and that they must be voted out in the forthcoming general elections," said Mileham. GOOD secretary-general and MP Brett Herron said his party wanted Ramaphosa to address the economic growth crisis. Herron pointed out that there were no plans to address the economic growth crisis that South Africa finds itself in. "Our economy, which should be the pride of the continent, is instead holding Africa's economy back," he said. Herron highlighted that South Africa must ramp its public investment in infrastructure - a plan first announced in 2010 - and provide access to funding to stimulate entrepreneurship, which he said had been the subject of numerous plans since 1994. He added that the energy crisis was a severe constraint on economic growth, saying the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme introduced in August 2020, was intended to procure 2 000 MW to meet the immediate electricity supply gap. He explained that this was a good plan, but three years later, only five projects totalling 353 MW were under construction. "The President must address how our independent power producer procurement programmes can be fast-tracked and how we can refine procurement processes so that successful bidders can reach legal and financial close and commence construction a lot faster," said Herron. PRIORITISING HUMAN RIGHTS GOOD party noted that the R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant did not meet even half of the R760 food poverty line, explaining that this was a further erosion of the dignity of millions of people totally excluded from the economy. "We'd like to hear from the President that he has instructed the Minister of Finance to make difficult choices and prioritise implementing a basic income support programme in this year's Budget. This new grant should get as close as possible to the lower bound poverty line (R1 058 in May 2023)," the party said. For the past year, GOOD has campaigned for a R999 Basic Income Grant, with the party saying this is affordable only if waste and excess are cut. Amnesty International South Africa wants Ramaphosa to fulfil his commitment to uphold and safeguard the human rights of all people living in South Africa with the same fervour demonstrated in advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people. Amnesty International noted that following the International Court of Justice's ord...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a leading supplier of products, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Energy Council CEO James Mackay has welcomed the decision of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to extend the comment period for the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2023 by a month and has also called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to use his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) to emphasise government's commitment to "open and robust debate on national energy policy". Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe used his Mining Indaba address on February 6 to announce that the IRP comment period had been extended to March 23 from February 23 to "allow maximum participation in this process". However, he refrained from initiating public hearings, which some commentators have called for given serious concerns over the assumptions and modelling used to produce the draft document. In a statement issued ahead of the SoNA, which is scheduled for February 8, Mackay stressed that national energy policy had multiple and significant impacts on all South Africans and should, thus, be fully debated and be accessible to all, including labour and communities. "Our reality is that business confidence is near historic low levels resulting in continued reluctance to make the much-needed capital investment required to grow our economy and create jobs. "It is well accepted that the majority of future energy investment will come from the private sector, so building a national energy vision that has the buy-in of the public and private sector is critical." Mackay argued that it was also important for the President to use the SoNA to acknowledge the important role of the private sector, primarily through its efforts within the National Energy Crisis Committee, to tackle the loadshedding crisis and lay the foundations for energy security and a modernised electricity supply industry. "A strong message in this regard is critical to building investor confidence that is needed to unlock economic growth and job creation." Mackay expressed optimism that the historic downward trend of Eskom's plant availability was being stabilised. But he said that there was still a need to underline accountability at Eskom ahead of Dan Marokane starting work as CEO on March 1 and following the appointment of the new National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) board, ahead of its operationalisation. He added that the most important reform message in the SoNA should be the urgency of passing the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill (ERA), which was currently before the National Assembly. "This will help lay the foundation for the long-awaited sector modernisation, including the unbundling of Eskom and the introduction of our first energy market. "A clear message on ERA will significantly improve confidence in energy policy, including the critical need for grid expansion under the new NTCSA. "This, in turn, will enable a shift in efforts to focus on efficient regulations and implementation capacity." The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition welcomed AMSA decision to defer the closure of its long-products business, noting that the move followed extensive discussions with the company since December. "Government has engaged the leadership of the firm as well as its customers and suppliers do identify concrete measures that can assist to support primary steel manufacturing in South Africa," the department said in a statement, adding that the deferral offered immediate relief to more than 1 500 workers at the Newcastle Works and its downstream customers. "The expected improvement in infrastructure spending, coupled with turnaround plans on transport logistics and commencement of trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, will all play a positive role in strengthening both demand and supply side challenges in line with the objectives of the Steel Masterplan."

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a leading supplier of products, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Energy Council CEO James Mackay has welcomed the decision of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to extend the comment period for the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2023 by a month and has also called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to use his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) to emphasise government's commitment to "open and robust debate on national energy policy". Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe used his Mining Indaba address on February 6 to announce that the IRP comment period had been extended to March 23 from February 23 to "allow maximum participation in this process". However, he refrained from initiating public hearings, which some commentators have called for given serious concerns over the assumptions and modelling used to produce the draft document. In a statement issued ahead of the SoNA, which is scheduled for February 8, Mackay stressed that national energy policy had multiple and significant impacts on all South Africans and should, thus, be fully debated and be accessible to all, including labour and communities. "Our reality is that business confidence is near historic low levels resulting in continued reluctance to make the much-needed capital investment required to grow our economy and create jobs. "It is well accepted that the majority of future energy investment will come from the private sector, so building a national energy vision that has the buy-in of the public and private sector is critical." Mackay argued that it was also important for the President to use the SoNA to acknowledge the important role of the private sector, primarily through its efforts within the National Energy Crisis Committee, to tackle the loadshedding crisis and lay the foundations for energy security and a modernised electricity supply industry. "A strong message in this regard is critical to building investor confidence that is needed to unlock economic growth and job creation." Mackay expressed optimism that the historic downward trend of Eskom's plant availability was being stabilised. But he said that there was still a need to underline accountability at Eskom ahead of Dan Marokane starting work as CEO on March 1 and following the appointment of the new National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) board, ahead of its operationalisation. He added that the most important reform message in the SoNA should be the urgency of passing the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill (ERA), which was currently before the National Assembly. "This will help lay the foundation for the long-awaited sector modernisation, including the unbundling of Eskom and the introduction of our first energy market. "A clear message on ERA will significantly improve confidence in energy policy, including the critical need for grid expansion under the new NTCSA. "This, in turn, will enable a shift in efforts to focus on efficient regulations and implementation capacity." The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition welcomed AMSA decision to defer the closure of its long-products business, noting that the move followed extensive discussions with the company since December. "Government has engaged the leadership of the firm as well as its customers and suppliers do identify concrete measures that can assist to support primary steel manufacturing in South Africa," the department said in a statement, adding that the deferral offered immediate relief to more than 1 500 workers at the Newcastle Works and its downstream customers. "The expected improvement in infrastructure spending, coupled with turnaround plans on transport logistics and commencement of trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, will all play a positive role in strengthening both demand and supply side challenges in line with the objectives of the Steel Masterplan."

The Democratic Alliance (DA) noted that should President Cyril Ramaphosa fail to announce the removal of Deputy President Paul Mashatile from his Cabinet in his State of the Nation Address (SoNA), it will use collated information to lay criminal charges against Mashatile. The DA, on Friday, handed over a dossier with an accompanying letter detailing damning allegations of corruption levelled against Mashatile, to Ramaphosa's office at the Union Buildings. DA leader John Steenhuisen said that South Africa cannot be presided over by a Deputy President against whom corruption allegations are "piling up by the day". Steenhuisen noted that over the past few months, a series of explosive exposés had been published by numerous investigative journalists outlining the extent to which Mashatile is allegedly engaged in a web of corruption and State capture spanning almost two decades - behaviour that Steenhuisen says has become commonplace under the African National Congress (ANC). "These would constitute clear violations of the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act, the Public Finance Management Act, and the Executive Members' Ethics Act. With this dossier now in hand, President Ramaphosa can no longer claim ignorance that his 'Number Two' is heading a State capture scheme the likes of which was last seen under Jacob Zuma," he said. Steenhuisen noted that the DA would also file an Executive Members' Ethics Act complaint against Mashatile for his violation of the Executive Ethics Code. He said that in all of the party's submissions to law enforcement, it would highlight the fact that Ramaphosa was now personally in possession of the dossier against Mashatile, and that his failure to act potentially implicated him in the corruption racket. "This set of actions represents but the start of what will be a sustained campaign to hold both Ramaphosa and Mashatile accountable. The DA will continue to fight this corruption using every channel at our disposal," Steenhuisen added. He said had Ramaphosa carried out the lifestyle audits of his executive, as promised in his first SoNA at the beginning of his term, all of these alleged corrupt dealings would have come to light. Steenhuisen alleges that five years later, the South African national executive is still comprised of numerous Ministers facing severe allegations of corruption. "Yet another broken promise from a bystander President for which there have been no consequences," the DA leader said, Meanwhile, Steenhuisen highlighted that South Africa plummeted to its lowest-ever ranking on the global Corruption Perceptions Index, confirming that corruption was even worse under Ramaphosa than it was under Zuma. He said it was "precisely Ramaphosa's paralysis" regarding the illegal actions of his Cabinet members and ANC cadres that continued to hollow out South Africa's public service and chip away at investor and public confidence in government. "If a fish rots from the head down, then President Ramaphosa clearly sees it fit to preside over a corrupt government with a rotten Deputy. South Africans have learnt from painful experience that Ramaphosa lacks the courage to do the right thing. That is why the DA will now step up to lead by intensifying our campaign for Mashatile to be held accountable via other avenues," he said.

The Constitutional Court has ruled that the Electoral Amendment Act is in accordance with the Constitution. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is expected to head to court on Monday to interdict the suspension of six MPs from Parliament for disrupting the State of the Nation Address (SONA). South Africa's Nuclear Regulator briefs the media on the status of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station's Long-Term Operation License Agreement. The current license runs out in July 2024. 10:00 – 12:00. SPORTS WRAP!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and the party's top brass will have to apologise to President Cyril Ramaphosa, give up a month's salary, and will not be allowed to attend the State of the Nation Address (SoNA) next year as punishment for storming the stage during the president's address this year. On Wednesday, Parliament's Powers and Privileges Committee deliberated on the sanctions for Malema, EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu, the party's secretary-general Marshall Dlamini, Vuyani Pambo, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, and spokesperson Sinawo Thambo, after the six were found guilty of contempt of Parliament. During this year's SoNA on 9 February, EFF MPs started raising several points of order and National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula ordered them to leave the chamber. As they walked out, some of them stormed the stage, prompting an instant reaction from heavily armed police. All the African National Congress (ANC) MPs agreed that the six should apologise and be docked a month's salary. The Democratic Alliance (DA) wanted the affected MPs to be suspended for the month of February. Advocate Anton Katz SC, the initiator appointed by Parliament, recommended that the MPs be suspended with effect from 6 February 2024 to 16 February 2024. This means that they will miss SoNA next year, which will be held on 8 February. DA MP Annelie Lotriet proposed that the suspension be for a month, and not 10 days as suggested by Katz. Sanctions She also cautioned the committee to clarify how exactly the apology should read. This suggestion was supported by the ANC. "I have been a member of this committee since 2014. I have to be honest that just giving a fine does not have the desired effect. I would propose that, given the type of behaviour that we witnessed, we combine the apologies with a fine and impose a suspension on those members for a period of a month," Lotriet said. The ANC, which enjoys the majority on the committee, didn't seem to be in favour of the suspension. ANC MP Doris Dlakude proposed a docking of salaries and a public apology. This was also supported by other ANC MPs on the committee. "I think the apology and the one-month salary dock will be a better sanction," she said. But after deliberations behind closed doors, committee chairperson Violet Siwela said all the affected MPs would apologise for their actions and be suspended. "The penalty with respect to Mr Malema is an order to apologise to Parliament, the President and the people of South Africa in terms of Section 12, sub section 5 (C) physically in person in the House. Another order is the suspension of the member without remuneration for a month starting from 1 February to 29 February 2024 in terms of Section 12 subsection 5 (G) and read with sub section 9," she said. The same sanctions will apply to the other five MPs. According to Chapter 4, Section 12 (G) of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliaments and Provincial Legislatures Act, 2004, a member may be suspended, with or without remuneration, for a period not exceeding 30 days, whether or not the House or any of its committees is scheduled to meet during that period. Section 10 of the act stipulated that a member who has been suspended under subsection 5 (G) must leave the precincts, and may not, during the period of suspension, without the written permission of the Speaker or the Chairperson enter the precincts for whatever purpose or participate in any activity of Parliament or any committee. These and other provisions of Section 12 are used in disciplinary action against members for contempt. 'We're innocent' Meanwhile, Malema wrote to the committee explaining their conduct on the night of 9 February. In his submission, on behalf of all the effected MPs, he said: The sole evidence relied upon is video evidence. It has not been authenticated in any manner. And it is clear that it presents a slanted picture and does not show the entire proceedings. It could only have been so sl...

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24, 2023, where he spoke of his administration's accomplishments in the past year. In this episode, we spoke with ordinary Filipinos to give us another view on what it's really like to live in the Philippines. From the "Teka Teka News" podcast.For more stories like this, subscribe to Teka Teka News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. enumerated his administration's priority legislative measures in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). - Tiniyak ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. sa kanyang kauna-unahang SONA o State of the Nation Address na palalakasin ang produksyon ng mga kalakal at agrikultura ng Pilipinas

A detailed analysis of key aspects and broader implications of the first SONA by the new Filipino president.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the delay in the finalisation of the comprehensive social compact that he promised to deliver within 100 days of his February State of the Nation Address (SONA) is owing to the fact that full agreement on a common objective has not yet been reached. Writing in his weekly newsletter only days after former President Thabo Mbeki strongly rebuked the President for failing to deliver on his SONA commitment, Ramaphosa said he, too, wanted to see a consensus finalised. “[But] given the complexity of the issues, and so that we don't set ourselves up for failure, it is absolutely critical that genuine consensus is achieved among all social partners.” The President reports that a framework for a social compact has been developed, and that a team led by the Ministers of Employment and Labour; Trade, Industry and Competition; and Finance have been meeting with social partners to map out the priorities to be reflected in the new social compact. “As the name implies, a new consensus can only be successfully implemented if there is full agreement on a common objective, the plan to achieve it, and a commitment by all partners to the plan's implementation. “We have seen what happens when such accords are concluded to much fanfare, only to fall short on implementation,” the President writes. Part of the compact is likely to relate to tackling the electricity crisis and Ramaphosa is expected to announce an intervention to address intensifying load-shedding soon. South Africa, he argues in his newsletter, does not need yet another plan to overcome the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. “That is why the focus of ongoing discussions is on a set of catalytic interventions for maximum impact.” The compact will seek to build on the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan and the proposed framework will identify “priority actions to achieve higher levels of investment and growth, increase employment, unleash the dynamism of the private sector, protect the rights of workers, expand support for the unemployed and tackle extreme poverty”. “What is required most of all on the social compact is a clear set of interventions with a credible plan for their implementation,” the President writes. “While the State has a responsibility to improve the climate for the private sector to invest, implement social support measures to protect society's most vulnerable, and spearhead poverty eradication programmes, there must be complementary actions by business. “There must be a willingness from both organised business and labour to discuss the trade-offs needed to implement growth-enhancing measures in such a constrained economic environment. “There needs to be greater alignment between government and civil society organisations in our communities on poverty alleviation programmes.”

Preparations are in full swing for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's first State of the Nation Address (SONA). - Puspusan ang paghahanda sa unang State of the Nation Address o SONA ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr

The appointment of mining stalwart Sipho Nkosi to cut red tape is crucial to encourage new investment and expand existing investment in South Africa, says Menar MD Vuslat Bayoglu, whose private investment company has about R1.5-billion worth of investment being delayed by regulatory processes. While Nkosi was appointed to reduce government red tape in general, Bayoglu believes that his background and skill would be better used in the mining regulatory space. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.) “There are huge bottlenecks in mining approval processes, from prospecting rights, where it is relatively easy, to water use licences (WULs) and environmental authorisation, where things get harder,” said Bayoglu in a Zoom interview with Mining Weekly. “Often, different government entities contradict each other. Some NGOs take advantage of the red tape to block mining investment. They don't care about the taxes that the state is losing when it delays mining investments, exploit this to their own advantage and to the detriment of the country,” said Bayolu, who pointed to Minerals Council South Africa's members having R90-billion worth of ready-to-execute projects being stalled by red tape. “South Africa cannot afford to lose out on the current upswing in the commodity market. It is only during such times that investors have appetite to expand existing operations and develop new mines from scratch. “If we don't take advantage of this now by cutting the red tape, we should kiss goodbye to employment creation and the prospect of reducing poverty and inequalities – all of which are the key priorities of President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration. The President clearly knows this. We hope various departments will support him,” said Bayoglu. His second takeway from last month's State of the Nation Address (Sona) is that reforms are under way in the field of logistics. “Allowing third party access to the rail infrastructure is key to solving the logistics bottlenecks. While Transnet has performed better than many SOE's over the years, it has experienced challenges lately and this has impacted on mining exports. So, the President's initiatives, which Transnet has already embraced, are also a welcome development,” Bayoglu added. His third Sona takeway was the President firmly stating that business is responsible for creating jobs and the government should create an enabling environment. “I think if he can act on this statement and ensure that government takes decisions quickly, then we can succeed in creating economic opportunities,” he said. GROWTH STRATEGY DEVELOPMENTS The company's latest growth strategy development includes the commencement of mining at Kangra Coal's Udumo mine in February, marking the beginning of the extension of the life-of-mine (LoM) at Kangra, through the mining of the Kusipongo reserve of around 41.9-million tons, which could extend the LoM by more than 20 years. Kangra is targeting a production rate of 1.5-million tons a year from the underground mining sections for the duration of the LoM, with 360 000 t/y of anthracite being produced from available opencast areas. Located in Saul Mkhizeville, Mpumalanga, Kangra employs 549 people including contractors. The extension of the LoM of Kangra is described as being critical for local communities that derive employment and business opportunities from the mine. In addition, negotiations are continuing with stakeholders at Canyon Coal's fully licensed but yet to be developed Gugulethu colliery, which will create 430 jobs. Through Canyon, some R600-million is being invested in the Phase 1 development of Gugulethu, which is near Hendrina, also in Mpumalanga. The project has an estimated LoM of more than 35 years based on a run-of-mine (RoM) production of about 200 000 t/m from opencast areas and 150 000 t/m from underground sections. Mining will take place through underground and opencast methods. Phase 1, which will entail opencast mining, has a reserve of 14.3-million...

Soji Akinlabi and Sanisha packirisamy speak on the highlights of the State of the Nation Address (Sona) and its emphasis on the importance of the country's vaccination drive, job and growth initiatives, and the need to rebuild a democratic state, improve state capacity and fight state capture and corruption. They also speak on the budget preview, as delivered by the country's Minister of Finance.

Soji Akinlabi and Sanisha packirisamy speak on the highlights of the State of the Nation Address (Sona) and its emphasis on the importance of the country's vaccination drive, job and growth initiatives, and the need to rebuild a democratic state, improve state capacity and fight state capture and corruption. They also speak on the budget preview, as delivered by the country's Minister of Finance.

Soji Akinlabi and Sanisha packirisamy speak on the highlights of the State of the Nation Address (Sona) and its emphasis on the importance of the country's vaccination drive, job and growth initiatives, and the need to rebuild a democratic state, improve state capacity and fight state capture and corruption. They also speak on the budget preview, as delivered by the country's Minister of Finance.

Portfolio Manager, Peter Brooke, shares his latest weekly perspectives, this week he unpacks the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) and macroeconomic indicators that bode well for company performance and emerging market currencies.

Sakina Kamwendo speaks to National Assembly House Chairperson, Cedric Frolick  on Parliament's state of readiness for the 2022 State Of the Nation Address (SONA).     

Today's Daily Friend Show with Gabriel Crouse, Nicholas Lorimer and Sara Gon. They discuss comments by the Eskom CEO about transformation. Thy also discuss tomorrow's State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the war of words between Adriaan Basson and Dali Mpofu.

HERE comes the sun, thanks to Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz. As Diaz lifted a combined 224 kilograms it felt a weight, albeit temporarily, was lifted from the shoulders of a country hunched with the heavy load of debt. Indeed, as the rains at Monday's dusk drowned the droning-on of President Duterte during his last State-of-the-Nation Address (Sona), the republic faced the danger of debilitating debt. Finance officials have said that the Philippines could see the ratio of debt to gross domestic product (GDP) to tip the scale at around 58.7 percent.

As President Rodrigo Duterte prepares for his final State Of the Nation Address (SONA) various groups in the country have started their SONA related activities - Kasabay ng nalalapit na huling State Of the Nation Address o SONA ni Pangulong Duterte, sinimulan na rin ng iba't ibang grupo ang kanilang mga aktibidad kaugnay ng SONA

Top story: President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ’s time to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SoNA) has been moved from 8 am to 1 pm on Tuesday, 9 March 2021. Parliament announced the time change in a press statement.

In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, we talk about the economic implications of the recently held State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Annabel Bishop, chief economist at Investec, together with Dawie Roodt, chief economist at Efficient Group for a comprehensive examination of the speech. Bishop and Roodt give their initial impressions of the President’s remarks before discussing the implications for business and electricity generation.

Guest: Ongama Mtimka | Lecturer and political analyst at Nelson Mandela University   President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) in Parliament last night. He covered there would be four overriding priorities that national government would be focusing on: Defeating the COVID-19 pandemic. That is primary in everything we have to do; Accelerating economic recovery; Implementing economic reforms to drive inclusive growth; Fighting corruption and strengthening the state that has been weakened. Political Analyst, Ongama Mtimka, gives his reaction to last night address.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Rordigo Duterte is set to unveil the roadmap to recovery during his fifth State Of the Nation Address (SONA). - Sa nalalapit na State Of the Nation Address (SONA) ng Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte nakatakdang ilahad ng pamahalaan ang rodamap to recovery mula COVID-19

Cas Coovadia acting CEO of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) unpacking the 20020 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Small Business Conversations with Melitta Ngalonkulu. www.moneyweb.co.za

Moneyweb Radio — Cas Coovadia acting CEO of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) unpacking the 20020 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Small Business Conversations with Melitta Ngalonkulu.

The EFF returned to its tactics of disrupting the State of the Nation Address (SONA), last seen under the presidency of Jacob Zuma, when Parliament sat for the opening of both Houses on Thursday evening. While it was expected the red berets would interrupt President Cyril Ramaphosa's 2020 SONA to call for the removal of Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, it was in fact former president FW de Klerk whom the fighters first targeted. This episode was hosted by Riaan Grobler and produced by Nokuthula Manyathi.

This week on POLOTIKI, we shift the focus to Parliament where President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), the second this year and the first in the newly elected sixth administration.

In a week dominated by Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), another explosive piece of news hit the headlines: Total have struck a major oil and gas deposit off the Southern Cape. As a net oil importer, South Africa has long sought its own oil and gas deposits, but after the fracking debacle in the Karoo, it looked like a hopeless cause. The Total discovery changes all that. With a billion barrels of oil equivalent, the deposit could transform SA’s energy future – especially if it encourages more exploration and development. Alec Hogg and Felicity Duncan discuss the implications of this discovery and what it means for SA’s future. They also dive deep into the strange story of Jeff Bezos’ compromising selfies. Bezos broke the internet this week with a blog post detailing what appears to be an extortion attempt by Trump cronies at the National Enquirer, who threatened to embarrass the billionaire if he doesn’t retract accusations of politically motivated meddling by the tabloid. Suffice it to say Bezos decided that the best defence is a good offence, with explosive results. Felicity and Alec muse on the wisdom of trying to blackmail the world’s richest man.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will be delivering his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). Parliament says close to one-thousand-200 guests from various sectors of society have been invited to attend this evening's address by Ramaphosa. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our parliamentary Correspondent, Mercedes Besent and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli.

CliffCentral.com — Tumisho Masha discusses how President Jacob Zuma should have dealt with the Nkandla issue in the wake of The State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2016 . He also looks at business and the process of hiring and firing.

CliffCentral.com — Just a day left before President Jacob Zuma delivers the State of the Nation Address (SoNA) 2016. Andrew Levy and Rorisang Tsabalala find out what the real state of our nation is. Are we all overreacting about the state of our country? They also discuss what South Africans are expecting from the (SoNA) 2016.

Josey Gerrish, featured in The Caretaker With immigration reform stalled in Congress and the California Domestic Worker Bill of Rights being reviewed by the senate, tonight, we bring you a discussion on immigration. In studio with us we have Mercy Albaran with Mujeres Unidas y Activas working on their Domestic Workers Bill of Rights campaign; Noela Payton, a domestic worker who fought back and won a wage claim after her employer refused to pay overtime; and Roseli Ilano with Immigrant Nation, a short film series that spotlights the commonalities between recent immigrants and those whose families have lived in the US for generations. The director of the film series is award-winning filmmaker Theo Rigby. As we're in fund drive, we're offering his documentary, Sin País, which won the best documentary and audience choice award at the Napa Valley Film Festival, as a premium. And we hear from R.J. Lozada, our international reporter in the Philippines, with his commentary (passed on to us by Secretary General of BAYAN-USA Jessica Antonio) fresh from the people's response to the State of the Nation Address (SONA 2013). Photo by R.J. Lozada With Host No-No Girl and Tara. The post APEX Express – July 25, 2013 appeared first on KPFA.