- President Cyril Ramaphosa will give his State of the Nation Address for 2024 at 19:00 this evening.
- Several news outlets and government bodies will be streaming the speech on YouTube and you can visit government websites for the speech if you prefer to read.
- With 2024 being an election year, there will be another State of the Nation Address later this year.
On Thursday evening President Cyril Ramaphosa will present the State of the Nation Address for 2024.
As this is an election year in South Africa, this will be the first of two State of the Nation Addresses taking place. The second will of course take place after the National Elections take place. A date for those elections is still to be announced and the rumour mill suggests a date will be set during tonight’s address.
The President will address citizens in what is best described as a turbulent run into the elections for his party the ANC. The energy crisis as well as rampant corruption alongside an economy that lies in shatters are all top of mind for many South Africans. The President is going to have to win back the hearts and minds of citizens tonight and that’s a tough ask amid Stage 2 loadshedding.
“In the address, President Cyril Ramaphosa sets out government’s key policy objectives and deliverables for the year ahead, flag challenges and outline interventions to unlock our nation’s potential. During his address, the President also highlights what has been achieved since his last address in 2023. He also reflects on the progress made in implementing the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP),” reads a media statement.
The proceedings kick off on Thursday afternoon but Ramaphosa’s speech is expected to begin at 19:00.
You can find links to livestreams from news outlets and government bodies on YouTube, below:
For those who don’t want to sit through what has in the past been a very long event, you can visit the South African Government’s page where speeches are available here. You can also find speeches from the Presidency on its official website here.
Generally speaking, the State of the Nation Address becomes available shortly after the president begins their address so check those links after 19:00 if you would prefer to read through the speech.
For those looking to follow along on social media, the official hashtag is #SONA2024. We advise caution, however, as bad actors may use social media to spread misinformation. Be sure to follow trustworthy voices.
