VIDEO: Ramaphosa’s 2025 State of the Nation Address on Moneyweb

ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION BY PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

6 FEBRUARY 2025

CAPE TOWN CITY HALL

Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza,
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane,
Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile,
Chief Justice Mandisa Maya and Judges President,
Former President Thabo Mbeki,
Former President Kgalema Motlanthe,
Former Deputy President David Mabuza,
Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Baleka Mbete,
Former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Lechesa Tsenoli,
Former Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Mr Amos Masondo,
Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Mr Geordin Hill-Lewis,
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Regional Deans and Heads of Missions,
Members of Parliament,
Fellow South Africans,

We come together today in remembrance of the 14 South African soldiers who tragically lost their lives while on a mission to restore peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

We honor their memory:

Staff Sergeant William Eddie Cola
Staff Sergeant Molahlehi Ishmael Molahlehi
Staff Sergeant Shwahlane Theophilus Seepe
Corporal Matome Justice Malesa
Corporal Rinae Nemavhulani
Lance Bombardier Itumeleng Macdonald Moreo
Lance Corporal Tseke Moffat Molapo
Lance Corporal Metse Stansly Raswiswi
Rifleman Sebatane Richard Chokoe
Rifleman Derrick Maluleke
Rifleman Tshidiso Andries Mabele
Rifleman Calvin Louis Moagi
Rifleman Mokete Joseph Mobe
Private Peter Jacobus Strydom

These brave individuals, alongside their comrades from other Southern African nations, paid the ultimate price in defense of every Congolese citizen’s right to peace and security.

Their sacrifice was not for land, power, or resources.

They fought to ensure that the sound of war is silenced forever across our continent.

We honor our courageous soldiers.

Vision

Dear Fellow South Africans,

This State of the Nation Address is being made as we commemorate 70 years since the Freedom Charter was adopted at the Congress of the People in Kliptown.

The Freedom Charter forms the foundation of our democratic Constitution.

It articulates a vision for a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, and flourishing South Africa.

It envisions a nation where government reflects the will of the people,
where land is shared among those who cultivate it,
where every citizen partakes in the nation’s wealth,
and where all individuals are treated equally under the law.

This vision continues to steer us as we endeavor to construct the nation we aspire toward.

The spirit of the Congress of the People motivates us as we gear up for a National Dialogue inviting South Africans to collectively draft a new course for our country.

We must navigate this path in an ever-evolving global landscape.

This landscape is characterized by interdependence and competition, collaboration and conflict.

It is a multipolar world where emerging nations are taking on greater roles in global matters.

We are observing heightened competition over trade, technology, and influence within global institutions.

Fundamental global transformations are influencing every aspect of human existence.

From the escalating effects of climate change to rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, geopolitical tensions, and violent conflicts.

Confronted with these challenges, we are seeing the rise of nationalism and protectionist sentiments, the chase for narrow interests, and the withering of shared objectives.

This is the terrain we, as a developing nation, must now traverse.

Yet, we are undeterred. We will not bow to intimidation.

We are a resilient people. We shall stand united as a nation.

We will speak with a singular voice to protect our national interests, our sovereignty, and our constitutional democracy.

By remaining faithful to our values, leveraging our unique strengths and resources, and fostering a shared purpose, we can convert these challenging conditions into assets and drive our nation forward.

As South Africans, we embody peace and justice, equity and solidarity.

We embrace non-racialism and democracy, tolerance, and compassion.

We advocate for equal rights for women, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQI+ community.

We embrace our collective humanity, shunning the survival of the fittest.

So, this evening, let us elaborate on the nation we envision.

Let us discuss our efforts – and ongoing work – to construct that nation.

We seek a nation united in its diversity.

Throughout tumultuous periods in our history, we have rallied together towards a shared objective.

Through collaboration, we ushered in peace and democracy.

We triumphed over apartheid, a crime against humanity that stripped people of their rights, their land, and their dignity.

Through cooperation, we weathered a devastating pandemic, rebuilding our country in the aftermath of state capture.

Together, we have established resilient institutions that uphold our democracy, safeguard our basic rights, and enhance the well-being of South Africans.

We have fostered meaningful partnerships among government, business, labor, civil society, and other social stakeholders aimed at driving growth and development.

These serve as exemplary models of collaboration for the global community.

South Africans continue to unite in tackling our nation’s challenges and constructing a society that serves all.

Development Plan

Guided by the aspirations of the people articulated in last year’s elections, we have forged a Government of National Unity to embody our cooperative ethos.

As political factions, we have prioritized collaboration over division for the collective benefit of every South African.

In the past week, we have unveiled the Medium Term Development Plan, which lays out a clear and ambitious framework for the next five years.

The actions outlined in the Medium Term Development Plan will drive our three strategic priorities:

First, to promote inclusive growth and job creation.

Second, to alleviate poverty and address the escalating cost of living.

Third, to cultivate a capable, ethical, and developmental state.

Our most pressing task is to stimulate our economy so we can generate jobs, alleviate poverty, and enhance the lives of all South Africans.

To execute this task, we need a government that operates for the people.

We require a competent and effective state, backed by a professional public service.

South Africans expect a state that honors all individuals with dignity, humility, and respect.

A state led by figures who are committed to serving our populace and staffed with public servants who are ethical, skilled, and well-qualified.

To fulfill these objectives, we are augmenting the role of the Public Service Commission in the appointment of key leaders who steer our state’s operations, including Directors-General, Deputy Directors-General, Chief Executive Officers of SOEs, and other senior roles.

We will initiate a graduate recruitment program to attract the top talent into public service.

A capable state should start where individuals reside and work.

In many cities and towns nationwide, infrastructure remains unmaintained, and disruptions to water and electricity supply are commonplace, refuse collection is neglected, and sewage runs through the streets.

This situation partially arises from the deficiency in technical skills and resources among many municipalities needed to meet the population’s needs.

Numerous municipalities have failed to reinvest the revenue they generate from these services into infrastructure maintenance.

Beginning this year, we will collaborate with municipalities to establish professionally managed, dedicated utilities for water and electricity services that ensure appropriate investment and upkeep.

Many challenges facing municipalities stem from the existing design of our local government structure.

Hence, we will conduct extensive consultations to develop an updated White Paper on Local Government that delineates a modern and effective local government system.

We will reevaluate the funding model for municipalities since many lack a viable and sustainable revenue base.

We will continue to partner with traditional leaders in deploying local development initiatives.

Support will be enhanced for municipalities requiring assistance, utilizing lessons learned from the Presidential eThekwini Working Group.

eThekwini is making notable strides as we implement the district development model that enables all critical players in government, business, labor, and community organizations to collaborate.

As we endeavor to reform the public service and bolster the state’s capacity, we will leverage technology to revolutionize government operations.

Investment will flow into digital public infrastructure, providing South Africans access to governmental services anytime, anywhere, via a revamped gov.za platform.

The implementation of a digital identity system will be central to this transformation.

These initiatives will reshape the relationship between citizens and the government, facilitating an accessible government for all.

We aspire for a nation with a flourishing economy that serves everyone.

To create this cycle of investment, growth, and job creation, we must elevate economic growth above three percent.

Infrastructure

To achieve higher economic growth levels, we are embarking on significant investments in new infrastructure while upgrading our existing facilities.

We are exploring innovative funding mechanisms for infrastructure projects.

We are engaging both local and international financial institutions and investors to unlock R 100 billion in infrastructure financing.

A project preparation bid window has been introduced to expedite investment readiness.

This will include revised regulations for public-private partnerships, which will harness private sector expertise and funding.

The government will allocate over R940 billion towards infrastructure over the next three years.

This includes R375 billion in expenditures from state-owned companies.

This financial support will revitalize our roads and bridges, construct dams and waterways, modernize our ports and airports, and boost our economy.

Through the Infrastructure Fund, twelve blended finance projects valued at nearly R38 billion have been approved in the past year.

These projects include initiatives in water and sanitation, student housing, transport, healthcare, and energy.

The construction of the Mtentu Bridge is ongoing.

This bridge will span the river between Port Edward and Lusikisiki, making it the tallest bridge in Africa.

The Polihlali Dam will channel 490 million cubic meters of water annually from the Lesotho Highlands into the Vaal River System, securing water supply for several provinces for years to come.

Working with global partners, we are revitalizing small harbors to unlock economic potentials for coastal communities.

We are progressively dismantling the barriers to meaningful and rapid growth.

The economic reforms activated through Operation Vulindlela have instilled a fresh sense of optimism and confidence in our economy.

We have made advancements in rebuilding and reorganizing several of our network industries.

Positive outcomes can be observed regarding the operational efficiency of our network industries, as well as the investment prospects that are arising and being embraced by investors to foster job creation.

In collaboration with business, labor, and other social partners, we must now finalize this task.

In the forthcoming year, we will launch a second wave of reforms to facilitate faster and more inclusive growth.

Your immediate concentration will be on empowering Eskom, Transnet, and other state-owned enterprises critical to our economy to operate effectively.

We are repositioning these entities to provide world-class infrastructure while promoting competition in operations, whether in electricity generation, freight rail, or port terminals.

We are continuing the fundamental reform of our state-owned enterprises to ensure they can effectively accomplish their social and economic missions.

This includes efforts to implement a new model designed to enhance governance and oversight of public entities.

We will safeguard public ownership of strategic infrastructure intended for public benefit while seeking innovative routes to attract private investments that enhance services and guarantee that public revenues are concentrated on delivering public services.

A dedicated SOE Reform Unit is being set up to manage this work.

The measures instituted through the Energy Action Plan have diminished both the severity and frequency of load shedding, with over 300 days without load shedding since March 2024.

While the recommencement of load shedding for two days last week underscored our still-constrained energy supply, we remain on a positive course.

We now must eliminate the risk of load shedding permanently by completing the reform of our energy system to ensure long-term energy security.

The Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, effective from January 1, symbolizes the start of a new chapter.

Through this year, we will lay the foundations for a competitive electricity market.

Over time, this will permit multiple electricity generation entities to emerge and compete.

We will galvanize private sector investments into our transmission network to connect additional renewable energy sources to the grid.

While we enact our energy reforms, we are also cultivating successful multilateral collaborations in the global initiative to combat the devastating impacts of climate change.

Our Just Energy Transition is gaining traction.

International backing of over 13 billion US dollars has been pledged, with significant local private capital investments occurring.

We are committed to meeting our carbon reduction commitments, ensuring such actions align with the pace and resources our country can manage.

We are rejuvenating our port terminals and rail corridors through the Freight Logistics Roadmap, leveraging private investments to elevate them to world-class standards.

Transnet’s performance is stabilizing and gradually improving.

A Network Statement was released in December 2024 which will, for the first time, allow private rail operators to access the freight rail system.

Open access to the rail network will permit train operating companies to augment the volume of goods transported by rail, keeping our network infrastructure under state ownership.

This strategy will ensure that South African minerals, vehicles, and agricultural products reach international markets, securing jobs and generating vital revenue for our fiscal resources.

New cranes and other port equipment are being deployed to enhance the loading and unloading of cargo, thereby reducing ships’ waiting times in our ports.

Water Security

As we push forward with our reform agenda, an immediate priority is to ensure a steady and dependable supply of water across the nation.

Individuals in our cities, towns, and villages are experiencing increasingly frequent water shortages due to failing water infrastructure.

Living without water is impossible, and our economy cannot flourish without it.

Thus, we are embarking on decisive actions to address the water crisis, ensuring that our people have access to water where they reside, whether in urban or rural settings.

We are making substantial investments to expand our water resources.

To date, the Infrastructure Fund has secured R23 billion for seven major water infrastructure projects.

We are eliminating delays in significant water infrastructure projects, such as Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project and the uMkhomazi Dam.

Preparatory work is ongoing for the construction of the Ntabelanga Dam on the uMzimvubu River, aimed at supplying additional water for domestic use and irrigation in the Eastern Cape.

Within the coming year, we will finalize the establishment of the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency to unlock substantially greater investments in water initiatives.

Through the Water Services Amendment Bill, we will introduce a licensing framework for water service providers and revoke licenses for those who do not comply with standards for clean drinking water.

Visa System

In alignment with our reform strategy, we will enhance our visa system to facilitate skilled individuals’ investment in our nation and expand tourism.

This year, we will roll out an Electronic Travel Authorisation system to create a secure, fully digital visa application experience.

This system will employ artificial intelligence and automation to minimize corruption and guarantee rapid response times for tourist visas.

We have resolved over 90 percent of the backlog of more than 300,000 visa applications.

These advancements send a strong message: South Africa is open for business and tourism.

Inclusive Economy

We strive for a nation where prosperity and opportunities are accessible to all.

For decades, our economy has been stymied by the exclusion of the vast majority of South Africans.

Black South Africans have been denied land, capital, skills, and opportunities.

Our economy has been deprived of the potential of its people.

Thus, we must reform our economy to make it more inclusive.

Our commitment is focused on empowering black individuals, women, and persons with disabilities, who were consciously sidelined from playing a key role in their nation’s economy.

We will establish a transformation fund worth R20 billion annually over the next five years to support black-owned and small businesses.

We will expedite the regulations of the Public Procurement Act to ensure that enterprises owned by women, youth, and persons with disabilities are afforded equitable opportunities in government contracts.

Ongoing training for women entrepreneurs will continue to enable them to compete for government tenders effectively.

In November last year, we launched the National Skills Fund Disabilities Programme.

In its inaugural phase, this transformative initiative aims to empower over 10,000 individuals with disabilities through specialized training programs, stipends, and unique tools.

This is part of our collaborative effort as businesses, government, labor, and civil society to enable persons