President Cyril Ramaphosa. Phando Jikelo / Parliament RSA
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his State of the Nation Address (Sona) in a climate where global geopolitics have thrust South Africa into the spotlight following the killing of 14 soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and US President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks about the country’s land reform and property rights laws.
These are among the critical issues that are expected to top Ramaphosa’s first Sona under the Government of National Unity (GNU).
It comes at a time when South Africa is attempting to dispel reports sparked by Trump that his country would withdraw funding to South Africa because it was “confiscating land”, and as the country has lost 14 soldiers during a peacekeeping mission in the DRC.
Ramaphosa has also come under sharp criticism from opposition parties accusing him of breaking protocol for clearing up the country’s land expropriation without compensation law with US billionaire Elon Musk, instead of his counterpart, Trump.
International Relations expert and director of Surgetower Associates, Siseko Maposa, said although there was hope for a decisive stance on foreign policy issues, it was not likely given the president's history of a “cautious” approach to his Sona speeches.
“Although I hope for a decisive stance from President Ramaphosa on the pressing foreign policy issues dominating our nation's discourse, Surgetower’s recently published research analysing key themes and mentions from his SONA addresses between 2020-2024 suggests that bold announcements regarding Rwanda and/or the USA are improbable in SONA 2025.
“President Ramaphosa is known for his cautious approach to public addresses, so it's unlikely he'll stray from his characteristic restraint in his upcoming speech. Instead, he'll probably express condolences for the brave soldiers who've lost their lives, reaffirm South Africa's dedication to peacebuilding in Africa, and briefly touch on ongoing efforts to address conflicts in the DRC and Rwanda, as well as discussions with the USA on pressing issues.
“A few other factors support my stance; historically, his addresses have been light on foreign policy and international relations issues, the current coalition remains tentative, and Ramaphosa will likely prioritise caution over controversy. SONA 2025 will focus on consolidating GNU power and promoting South Africa to the international community to boost investor confidence – in this context, foreign policy issues are likely to be tactfully downplayed,” said Maposa.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson said the president hoped that Trump will visit Pretoria ahead of the G20 summit this year to clear the air between two states. South Africa will host the summit in November.
“It remains President Ramaphosa’s intention to welcome him on a state visit. We are hoping that there will be time even for a round of golf. We have been trying to urge the president to steal a bit more time to get his swing back in order and back in the groove so that when he takes President Trump out for a round of golf, he’s able to put up a decent game,” Magwenya said ahead of Thursday’s Sona.
Opposition parties meanwhile called for a careful balance of diplomatic considerations, while prioritising the needs of the South African people.
Build One South Africa (Bosa) leader Mmusi Maimane said: “I urge president Ramaphosa to be decisive in bringing back our troops. When I arrived in Parliament I raised the question about what our troops were doing in the DRC and I got poor answers. It is simply unsustainable for our troops to remain in the DRC, it comes with the cost of human life and more seriously it has seen us enter into a battlefield where more lives could be lost.”
GOOD party secretary-general Brett Herron said Ramaphosa had the “difficult task” of refuting the “disinformation sold to the Americans by bad faith players, including some he co-governs with in the GNU”, while at the same time maintaining beneficial trade relations with the US.
“He will deliver his SONA address amidst a crisis in eastern DRC and a US funding spat with President Trump. Both issues require a tactical and cautious approach, engaging heavily with diplomatic back channels to stabilise the situation.”
The EFF questioned why Ramaphosa had a conversation with Musk, instead of his counterpart Trump. The party accused Musk of wanting to bring Starlink to South Africa and circumvent local BEE legislation.
“The EFF is dismayed by the decision of President Cyril Ramaphosa to break diplomatic protocols by calling an unelected government official, Elon Musk, to explain himself about the Expropriation Act that he recently signed into law.
“It is an objective fact that Elon Musk’s interference with U.S foreign policy as it relates to South Africa is rooted not only in his racist and white supremacist attitudes but is also based on his interests as a businessman to introduce his satellite company Starlink in South Africa.”
To this Magwenya said the president’s phone call to Musk was aimed at clearing up any “misinformation and miscategorisation” around local laws surrounding the Expropriation Act.
“The US is our second largest trading partner, we have a long standing strategic political trade as well as cultural relationship. It’s a relationship we respect. It’s a relationship that has always been mutually beneficial. Where there are bumps, it will always be within our interest to engage with various roleplayers within the leadership of the country but also broadly in society in the U.S.”
Additional reporting Kamogelo Moichela
Cape Times