Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has sharply criticized President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), calling it “nothing but waffle and empty words.” Speaking to the media outside Cape Town City Hall, Malema questioned the president’s credibility, arguing that Ramaphosa’s speech was void of any real substance or accountability. “There is no plan. The president doesn’t account for what he said before this State of the Nation Address. The previous one was ‘Tshwanelo,’ the other one was ‘Thuma Mina,’” Malema remarked, referring to the president’s previous promises that have yet to be fulfilled.
Malema’s critique followed Ramaphosa’s first SONA after the establishment of the Government of National Unity (GNU) post the 2024 general elections. He criticized Ramaphosa for failing to deliver concrete solutions to South Africa’s ongoing issues, particularly the staggering unemployment rate, which currently stands at 32.1%. In response to this, Ramaphosa announced plans for a large-scale infrastructure investment, pledging over R940 billion for infrastructure development over the next three years. The investment, which includes R375 billion from state-owned companies, aims to revitalize roads, bridges, ports, and airports, and is meant to boost economic growth.
However, Malema dismissed this announcement, questioning its feasibility and the lack of a clear plan. “He says infrastructure is going to be developed, so much money has been put aside, but where and how? There’s no plan. It’s just utterances to pass time,” Malema said. He expressed skepticism that such an initiative would address South Africa’s stagnant economic growth, adding that the plan felt like a distraction rather than a real solution.
Malema pointed to past unfulfilled promises, such as the R1 million allocated for disaster relief in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), and the promise of one million houses in Alexandra, Gauteng. “He has spoken about building one million houses in Alexandra. Those houses are not built,” Malema emphasized. While Ramaphosa had apologized to Alexandra residents in 2023, clarifying that the one million houses were part of a national five-year target, Malema remained doubtful that any progress would be made under this new administration.
The EFF leader also criticized the president’s infrastructure commitments, claiming that the figure of R900 billion mentioned by Ramaphosa was just another example of “passing time.” “He’s not a man who follows through on what he committed to during the State of the Nation Address,” Malema said, underscoring the perceived lack of follow-through on previous promises.
Ramaphosa also announced the establishment of a transformation fund worth R20 billion annually over the next five years, aimed at funding black-owned and small business enterprises. Malema, however, dismissed this as yet another empty promise, stating, “He’s still saying we’re going to make sure that we develop the guidelines to make sure that it is not subjected to red tapes and all manner of things.”
The president also addressed the country’s ongoing water crisis, acknowledging the frequent shortages faced by cities, towns, and villages due to failing water infrastructure. He outlined plans to invest heavily in expanding water resources, with R23 billion secured for seven large water infrastructure projects, and promised to complete the establishment of the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency within the next year. Despite this, Malema remained critical, citing the stalled Giyani water project in Limpopo as an example of Ramaphosa’s failure to deliver on promises. “We spoke about water during the Giyani project. When he became the president, one of the things we said to him was the completion of the Giyani project. Till today, the project has not been implemented,” Malema said.
Malema’s skepticism extended to the broader issue of government spending, particularly in light of Ramaphosa’s repeated announcements of billions in investment. “Even during the height of Coronavirus (Covid-19), he was every speech putting numbers. But we’ve never seen any legacy of those billions that he spoke about, even during Covid,” Malema concluded. His comments reflect a deep mistrust in the president’s ability to turn promises into tangible results, and a growing frustration with what he sees as political rhetoric rather than meaningful action.
