SONA 2026: Ramaphosa hails GNU for economic uptick, urges citizens to ‘march in one line’
President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses lawmakers during his 10th State of the Nation Address at Cape Town City Hall, as the country reflects on progress and challenges in its 32nd year of democracy.
Image: Phando Jikelo / Parliament of SA
President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised the Government of National Unity (GNU), declaring that the economy is gaining momentum, but he also warned that progress will collapse without unity, discipline and mutual respect.
Addressing Parliament in Cape Town for his 10th State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, Ramaphosa struck a tone that was both celebratory and cautionary.
The GNU, he said, is beginning to stabilise an economy battered by years of stagnation, rolling power cuts and investor doubt.
“The strength of this nation comes from our people,” Ramaphosa said. “From our tolerance, our generosity, our solidarity.”
He framed the GNU not as a political compromise, but as a constitutional duty — rooted in dignity, equality, non-racialism and non-sexism.
In a world he described as increasingly fractured and unforgiving, he insisted South Africa’s survival depends on marching “in one line,” even when differences remain.
Ramaphosa pointed to the country’s democratic institutions, natural resources and resilient citizens as pillars of recovery.
He praised independent institutions and reaffirmed protections for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, underscoring what he called South Africa’s moral centre.
Outside Parliament, reactions were mixed. Business leaders welcomed signs of economic traction, while opposition parties questioned whether ordinary citizens feel the promised recovery.
For millions facing high food prices and unemployment, unity rhetoric must translate into jobs and stability.
Yet inside the chamber, Ramaphosa projected confidence. He argued that collaboration within the GNU has reduced political uncertainty and restored credibility at home and abroad.
“Our strength and power come from one another,” he said, calling for discipline and respect across political divides.
It was a message aimed beyond party lines — to a country weary of division but hungry for growth.
Ten SONA addresses in, Ramaphosa is betting that unity is no longer optional.
If the GNU succeeds, he suggested, it will not be because parties agree on everything — but because they choose to stand together.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
IOL Politics