President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday at Cape Town City Hall, where he is expected to outline government priorities and plans for the year.
The event, which officially opens Parliament, will cost about R7 million, mainly for broadcasting and ICT infrastructure. Tight security and road closures have been implemented around the venue, which continues to host SONA after the 2022 fire damaged Parliament.
Also see: National Dialogue to go ahead, vows President Ramaphosa
Why SoNA matters?
The State of the Nation Address is one of the few moments when all three arms of the State come together:
🏛️ Executive (President, Deputy President & Ministers)
⚖️ Judiciary (Chief Justice & Judge Presidents)
📜 Legislature (Members of Parliament); reflecting… pic.twitter.com/dhkVpFpcpZ— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) February 11, 2026
Former presidents Jacob Zuma and Kgalema Motlanthe are expected to attend, while Thabo Mbeki has confirmed he will not.
Also see: WATCH: The State of The Nation Address 2019 Live
Political parties, unions and civic groups have urged Ramaphosa to focus on key national issues, including crime, economic reform, unemployment, poverty, inequality and corruption.
Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) undertook operational preparations ahead of the State of the Nation Address (SoNA) delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday, 13 February 2026, at the Cape Town City Hall.
The preparations formed part of… pic.twitter.com/ODvtXdRLEd
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) February 11, 2026
Some organisations have also called for a basic income grant and action to address the rising cost of living.
The SONA debate will take place next week, followed by Cyril’s reply.
First published by African Insider
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
Also see: Ramaphosa’s SONA speech at odds with Motsoaledi’s ban on cannabis edibles
