SONA 2025 - 70 Years Since The Freedom Charter

A Vision For Inclusive Growth

By Jessie Taylor

As South Africa celebrates 70 years since the adoption of the Freedom Charter, President Cyril Ramaphosa has given his State of the Nation Address. His government will use the upcoming year to focus on driving inclusive growth and job creation; reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living; and building a capable, ethical and developmental state. President Ramaphosa said that the Freedom Charter, adopted in 1955, remains a cornerstone of South Africa’s democracy.

It envisions a united, non-racial, non-sexist, and prosperous nation where land, wealth, and governance are shared by all citizens. The government aims to uphold these principles as it navigates global challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and geopolitical tensions.

“We want a nation united in its diversity. At many difficult moments in our past, we worked together towards a common goal. Through partnership, we brought peace and democracy to our country,” President Ramaphosa said. “We overcame apartheid, a crime against humanity that denied people their human rights, that deprived them of their land and livelihoods, that sought to strip them of their dignity. Through partnership, we overcame a devastating pandemic and rebuilt our country in the wake of state capture. Together, we have built durable institutions that support our democracy, protect our fundamental rights and promote the well-being of South Africans.”

Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development

President Ramaphosa said the country’s most urgent task is to grow our economy so that we can create jobs, reduce poverty and improve the lives of all South Africans. The government plans to unlock R100 billion in infrastructure financing through partnerships with financial institutions.

“To achieve higher levels of economic growth we are undertaking massive investment in new infrastructure while upgrading and maintaining the infrastructure we have. We are developing innovative ways of funding infrastructure,” the President said.

Over the next three years, R940 billion will be allocated for infrastructure projects, including R375 billion by state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Among these projects are the Mtentu Bridge, Africa’s tallest bridge, and the Polihali Dam, which will secure water supply for multiple provinces.

“This funding will revitalise our roads and bridges, build dams and waterways, modernise our ports and airports and power our economy,” he said. President Ramaphosa added that the country is seeing successes in the introduction of energy and load shedding solutions. He said the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act came into effect on January 1, 2025, paving the way for a competitive electricity market, and the Energy Action Plan has reduced load shedding, with over 300 days of stable power since March 2024.

“While the return of load shedding for two days last week was a reminder that our energy supply is still constrained, we remain on a positive trajectory. We now need to put the risk of load shedding behind us once and for all by completing the reform of our energy system to ensure long-term energy security,” President Ramaphosa said. He added that the county’s just energy transition is gaining momentum, and $13 billion has been pledged by the international community. Significant private capital is being invested locally.

President Ramaphosa said that major investments are being made in water infrastructure, including R23 billion allocated for seven large water projects. He added that the government aims to establish a National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency to attract investment, and a licensing system for water service providers will be introduced to ensure reliable service delivery.

“As we forge ahead with the reform agenda, an urgent priority is to ensure a secure and reliable supply of water across the country. Many people in our cities, towns and villages are experiencing more and more frequent water shortages as a result of failing water infrastructure,” he said.

“It is impossible to live without water, and it is impossible for the economy to grow without water. We are therefore taking a series of decisive actions to resolve the water crisis, to enable our people to get water where they live, whether in townships or rural areas. We are investing heavily in expanding our water resources.”

Job Creation and Poverty Reduction

President Ramaphosa said that job creation remains a priority for his government. He announced that the Presidential Employment Stimulus has created 2.2 million work and livelihood opportunities. “The success of the Presidential Employment Stimulus shows how public employment programmes can create meaningful work that generates a wider benefit and contributes to sustainable employment,” he added.

In addition, over 235 000 young people secured jobs through the National Pathway Management Network. “We want a nation where there is work for all. Where every person can earn a decent living and realise their potential. Where the rights of workers are protected and working conditions improved. Where women and men receive equal pay for work of equal value. We need to ensure that growth creates jobs for all, especially for young people,” the president said.

Reducing poverty has seen the government ensure that 28 million South Africans receive social grants while 10.5 million learners benefit from no-fee schools. In addition, a sustainable form of income support for unemployed individuals will be introduced, using the Social Relief of Distress Grant as a foundation.

“We want a nation where no one goes hungry. For 30 years, since the dawn of democracy, we have worked together to reduce poverty. Today, we spend around 60 percent of our national budget on the social wage: on health, education, social protection, community development and public employment programmes,” President Ramaphosa said.

He added that more than 10.5 million learners go to public schools where they do not have to pay fees, and last year, over 900,000 students from poor and working class backgrounds received funding to study at universities and colleges. “Through these programmes, we are alleviating the worst effects of poverty. We are providing the means through which South Africans can rise above the poverty that has been passed down from one generation to the next. But we have to do much more if we are to end poverty,” President Ramaphosa said.

“We must do much more to ensure that women in particular no longer face a hopeless struggle to feed and clothe their children. While the government invests heavily to support poor and unemployed people, these programmes are fragmented and sometimes difficult to access. We are therefore building an integrated system of support for poor and unemployed people.”

Fighting Corruption and Strengthening Accountability

President Ramaphosa said that reform in the public sector remains a focus for the government. “As we work to reform the public service and build the capability of the state, we will harness technology to transform the way that government works. We will invest in digital public infrastructure to give South Africans access to government services anytime, anywhere, through a relaunched gov.za platform,” he said.

“At the heart of this transformation will be the implementation of a digital identity system. These measures will transform the relationship between citizens and government, and create one government that is accessible to every person at a touch.” The president said that the government is prioritising public sector efficiency and ethical leadership to enhance service delivery. This includes strengthening the Public Service Commission to ensure transparent and merit-based appointments for senior officials, including Director-Generals and SOE executives, as well as introducing a graduate recruitment scheme to attract top talent into the public service and improve governance.

President Ramaphosa added that he will be establishing professionally managed utilities for water and electricity services to ensure efficient infrastructure maintenance at the municipal level, reviewing the local government funding model to create sustainable revenue streams for municipalities, and developing an updated White Paper on Local Government to modernise governance structures and enhance accountability.

President Ramaphosa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating corruption through decisive action. He said that the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, now a permanent entity within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), will focus on prosecuting high-level corruption cases.

In addition, the government will be strengthening digital forensics capabilities to investigate complex financial crimes and implementing legislative reforms recommended by the State Capture Commission, which have already led to over R10 billion in recoveries. The 2025 SONA presents a roadmap for a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous South Africa. Through infrastructure development, economic transformation, job creation, and social upliftment, the government aims to create a nation that works for all. With strong partnerships and strategic reforms, South Africa is poised for sustainable growth and long-term prosperity.