CAPE TOWN – President Cyril Ramaphosa will outline government’s programme of action for the year ahead when he delivers the State of the Nation Address on 12 February at the Cape Town City Hall.
The venue carries deep historical significance as the same location where former president Nelson Mandela first addressed South Africans on 11 February 1990, hours after his release from prison.
Parliament will convene a joint sitting of the two Houses at 19:00, bringing together the executive, legislature and judiciary in one of the most significant events on the national political calendar.
The address comes nearly a year after Cabinet adopted the Medium-Term Development Plan 2024-2029 as the blueprint guiding government’s work, and arrives at a pivotal moment for the seventh administration.
Cautious progress on economic front
Government’s assessment of the plan’s implementation shows cautious progress mixed with persistent structural challenges, according to Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa.
South Africa recorded 0.8% gross domestic product growth in the second quarter of 2025, the strongest quarterly performance since 2022. Employment showed signs of recovery, with 248,000 jobs added in the third quarter, lowering the official unemployment rate to 31.9%.
Energy stability has delivered tangible gains, with more than 175 consecutive days without load shedding recorded during the review period. The Energy Availability Factor rose above 63%, reaching 70% on several days.
The country’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force grey list bolstered investor confidence, while achieving a primary budget surplus strengthened fiscal credibility.
However, youth unemployment stands at 58.5%, business confidence remains subdued, and logistics constraints continue to weigh on growth.
Infrastructure and industrial investment
Government has set aside over R1 trillion for public infrastructure over the medium term, supported by blended finance models designed to attract private capital.
Industrial policy interventions have secured new investments worth more than R44 billion across sector masterplans, including a R4.2 billion investment linked to the launch of BMW’s X3 plug-in hybrid vehicle.
Tourism has continued its post-pandemic recovery, with international arrivals reaching 7.6 million between January and September 2025.
Delays in project preparation, procurement inefficiencies and municipal capacity constraints continue to slow infrastructure delivery.
Social protection remains critical
More than 19 million South Africans continue to receive social grants, cushioning vulnerable households from rising food prices. Government has expanded food and nutrition programmes and strengthened support services for survivors of gender-based violence and femicide.
In education, over 1.3 million children are enrolled in early childhood development programmes. Health outcomes show HIV viral suppression reaching 96% and improved TB treatment success rates.
Despite these interventions, inequality remains entrenched, with South Africa’s Gini coefficient still hovering around 0.63.
State capability and governance
Lifestyle audits have been conducted for the vast majority of senior managers, and the passage of the Public Service Commission Bill marks a milestone in efforts to professionalise the public service.
While contact crimes have declined modestly and more than half of the State Capture Commission recommendations have been implemented or substantially completed, violent crime and gender-based violence remain concerns.
Following the address, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will deliver his Budget Speech in Parliament. Members of Parliament will debate the state of the nation address over two days before President Ramaphosa replies and closes the debate.
Parliament may accept, amend or reject departmental budgets to ensure alignment with priorities announced by the president.
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