TimesLIVE contributor and analyst Eusebius McKaiser examined president Cyril Ramaphosa's state of the nation address.

He argues that the president delivered his speech more persuasively than usual, with apparent control over the detail of the narrative, and with admirable speaker energy, notwithstanding major crises within both the African National Congress and the state.

However, McKaiser warns against setting the political leadership bar too low. He pushes back against those praising the president for his "honesty", and for taking responsibility for the various governance weaknesses under his leadership.