In delivering this year’s State of the Nation Address (Sona), President Cyril Ramaphosa knew quite well that South Africans have had to contend with his “six years of broken promises”. They endured prolonged periods of load shedding, a stagnant and job- shedding economy, water shedding, and the collapse of social and economic infrastructure.
They’ve also had to contend with escalating forms of violent crime and corruption. Understandably, this year’s Sona was not going to be easy. In his desperation to lift the mood of the audience that was weary of his promises, Ramaphosa invoked moments that birthed South Africa’s democracy.
Those were moments full of promise and hope. Unbeknown to him, this was the most inappropriate choice given the fact he presided over an administration that has reversed all the gains of freedom. The most generous assessment of Sona came from a
