JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa is running out of time to cement his legacy.
This is the view of political analyst Mpumelelo Mkhabela as Ramaphosa prepares for the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA).
With the country just a week away from the much-anticipated address, questions are being raised about whether the promises made in last year’s SONA have been delivered, amid ongoing economic and political strain.
Mkhabela assessed the President’s performance and outlined what Ramaphosa should prioritise in next week’s address.
He expects the President to maintain the familiar structure of previous SONA speeches — beginning with an outline of the challenges faced by government during the reporting period.
From there, Ramaphosa is likely to move on to policy and reform interventions aimed at addressing those challenges, before concluding with an account of achievements and an attempt to inspire hope.
However, Mkhabela warns that the President faces an uphill task
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With just three-and-a-half years left in his second term, Mkhabela says Ramaphosa has significant work to do if he hopes to leave a positive legacy.
He notes that since Ramaphosa’s tenure began, much of his focus has been on undoing the damage caused by the previous administration.
The President has sought to reform the criminal justice system, implement economic reforms, and attract business partners — particularly around economic growth and electricity reform.
But Mkhabela argues that these efforts have not fully reversed the damage of the past.
With water shortages remaining a daily struggle for citizens — from major cities to rural areas — and unemployment still at crisis levels as the economy continues to shed jobs, the President faces yet another daunting task.