SONA 2024: Cyril Ramaphosa to address the nation on Thursday
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, 8 February.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, 8 February 2024.
The address will take place before a joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament.
SONA 2024 DATE CONFIRMED
According to Parliament, the State of the Nation Address is an important milestone as it brings certainty to the country’s political, social, and economic landscape. It also demonstrates that South Africa’s democracy remains robust.
In the address, President Cyril Ramaphosa sets out the government’s key policy objectives and deliverables for the year ahead, flags challenges, and outlines interventions to unlock the nation’s potential.
ALSO READ: Julius Malema and EFF MPs suspended from this year’s SONA
The SONA provides the President with an opportunity to speak to the nation on the general state of South Africa, to reflect on a wide range of political, economic, and social matters within the domestic and global contexts, to account to the nation on the work of government and to set out government’s program of action.
Traditionally, the President makes key government announcements during this important joint sitting of Parliament.
ALSO READ: SONA 2023: A norm? EFF members thrown out from proceedings [watch]
EFF MPS INCLUDING JULIUS MALEMA SUSPENDED FROM PARLIAMENT
EFF leader Julius Malema, Deputy President Floyd Shivambu, General Secretary Marshall Dlamini, along with Sinawo Thambo, Vuyani Pambo, and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi will miss this year’s SONA.
The six MPs stormed the stage where President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the SONA in 2023, staging a protest.
The party was protesting against the serious allegations levelled against Ramaphosa about his Phala Phala game farm.
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“The timing of this suspension, specifically choosing February 2024 to exclude our members from the upcoming SONA, is particularly nefarious. The move appears to be a calculated attempt to ensure that Ramaphosa can deliver his final SONA without facing scrutiny from the EFF,” the party said.
The suspensions of the six EFF members are effective from Thursday, 1 February to 29 February.