Tintswalo – fact or fiction? Ramaphosa’s ‘perfect story’ shared at SONA

by Sergio Miller

Set against the stunning backdrop of Table Mountain and with the majestic Lions Head in the distance, the city of Cape Town hosted the highly anticipated 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA).

This crucial date on the South African calendar saw President Cyril Ramaphosa deliver his final address before the democratic elections. Unlike previous years, where the speech was often disrupted by the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, this year the legislature ensured that the President was able to deliver his speech without any interruptions.

During his address to the nation, Ramaphosa highlighted the great strides the African National Congress has made in bringing change 30 years post-apartheid. He introduced Tintswalo, a woman born in the new dawn of a democratic South Africa.

According to Ramaphosa, Tintswalo had access to everything her parents had, including water, healthcare, and the opportunity to attend a prestigious TVET college, which eventually led to a proper job.

However, many born post-1994 took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their disagreement with these comments. They found them to be far from the truth of the challenges facing the country today, particularly the issue of youth unemployment, which is at an all-time high.

Taking to X one user asked: “Does Tintswalo even exist?”

While the president clearly seemed to be out of touch with reality another user aimed to correct him saying: “ Titswalo doesn’t even have electricity, this Ramaphosa guy is lying, she’s not even working.”

Also see: ‘They don’t want us to come to parliament during the SONA,’ says Julius Malema