President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his ninth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday last week, outlining his administration’s priorities and vision for the year ahead. His address touched on critical issues facing the nation, including international relations, economic growth reforms, and crime prevention strategies. With a mix of optimism and urgency, the President provided an update on ongoing initiatives, highlighted
new plans to address the country’s challenges, and sought to reassure South Africans of the government’s commitment to delivering tangible results. Below are ten key points from his address that reflect the government’s focus on driving meaningful change in these areas.

2025 State of the Nation Address: 10 key highlights

Bottom line:

On balance, it was a positively received SONA. The rand strengthened following the address, despite some dollar resilience. However, plans and promises will need to be backed by concrete action. For now, it appears the market is giving the President the benefit of the doubt.

Macroeconomics in Brief

Macroeconomics in brief_12 Feb 2025