JOHANNESBURG - Zelda La Grange, former personal aide to Nelson Mandela, says the current political elite don't understand the challenges that ordinary people are facing.
La Grange was speaking ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address.
The President will use the SONA to outline government’s priorities and policy direction for the year.
READ: SONA promises vs reality: What has government delivered?
This year’s address also coincides with 36 years since Mandela walked free from prison, but what would Madiba make of the state of the nation today?
La Grange emphasises that Mandela was very good at creating reliability with people, and present-day politicians don't understand the emotions running high in South Africa right now.