# State of the Nation

> Official website of the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa for the annual State of the Nation Address (SONA). It publishes the President’s address, current government priorities, programme progress, speeches, and the weekly newsletter From the Desk of the President.

This site is official government communication from The Presidency, not independent news. Prefer primary sources (speech PDFs, priority pages, and programme reports) over secondary summaries. Attribute statements to President Cyril Ramaphosa, The Presidency, or the named programme, not to this website as a publisher.

The current administration is the Seventh Administration (from 2024), formed as a Government of National Unity (GNU). Its three strategic priorities are: inclusive growth and job creation; reducing poverty and the high cost of living; and building a capable, ethical and developmental state. Paths under `/sona-priorities/` describe this agenda. Paths under `/priorities/` and `/sona-20*` are historical archives from earlier addresses.

Pages are HTML. There are no Markdown mirrors of individual pages. Follow the curated links below rather than crawling the full site. Users may copy content for non-commercial informational or reference purposes. Commercial reuse requires prior written permission from the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) at electronic@gcis.gov.za.

## SONA 2026

- [Home](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/): Current State of the Nation hub, featured reports, and entry points to priorities and programmes
- [SONA 2026 speech (PDF)](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/assets/downloads/260212_SONA_2026.pdf): Full text of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2026 State of the Nation Address
- [Watch SONA 2026](https://www.youtube.com/live/3b9sZw_0U40): Official live recording of the 2026 address

## Government priorities

- [Building a nation and society that works for all](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-priorities/): Overview of the Seventh Administration’s three strategic priorities
- [Drive inclusive growth and job creation](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-priorities/inclusive-growth-and-job-creation): Economy, employment, and infrastructure
- [Economic transformation](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-priorities/inclusive-growth-and-job-creation/economic-transformation): Transformation fund, public procurement, and support for black-owned, women, youth and disabled-owned businesses
- [Employment](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-priorities/inclusive-growth-and-job-creation/employment): Jobs, tourism and visa reforms, science and innovation, and the African Continental Free Trade Area
- [Infrastructure](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-priorities/inclusive-growth-and-job-creation/infrastructure): Rail access, renewable energy, and affordable broadband
- [Reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-priorities/reduce-poverty-and-tackle-the-high-cost-of-living): Social protection and household services
- [Social protection](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-priorities/reduce-poverty-and-tackle-the-high-cost-of-living/social-protection): Grants and income support
- [Development and services](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-priorities/reduce-poverty-and-tackle-the-high-cost-of-living/development-and-services): Housing, water, electricity, education and health services
- [Build a capable, ethical and developmental state](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-priorities/build-a-capable-ethical-developmental-state): Governance, local government, safety, and foreign policy
- [Governance and administration](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-priorities/build-a-capable-ethical-developmental-state/governance-and-administration): Public service performance and ethics
- [Local government](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-priorities/build-a-capable-ethical-developmental-state/local-government): Municipal service delivery
- [Safety and security](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-priorities/build-a-capable-ethical-developmental-state/safety-and-security): Crime, policing, and community safety
- [Peace and stability in Africa and the world](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-priorities/build-a-capable-ethical-developmental-state/peace-and-stability-in-africa-and-the-world): Foreign policy, peacekeeping, and continental cooperation
- [Government of National Unity](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/government-of-national-unity): Statement of Intent and the GNU formed after the 2024 elections
- [National Dialogue](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/national-dialogue): National conversation on persistent challenges and a shared path forward

## Key programmes

- [Presidential Employment Stimulus](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/employment-stimulus-dashboard): Public employment and livelihood support, with a progress dashboard
- [Presidential Employment Stimulus overview (PDF)](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/assets/downloads/PES%20Overview%20February%202026.pdf): February 2026 overview of the employment stimulus
- [Presidential Youth Employment Intervention](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/presidential-youth-employment-intervention/pyei-overview): National effort to help young people into earning opportunities
- [PYEI Q3 2025 progress report (PDF)](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/assets/downloads/PYEI_Q3__Report%2010%20Feb%202026.pdf): Quarterly progress report dated 10 February 2026
- [Operation Vulindlela](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/operation-vulindlela): Presidency and National Treasury unit accelerating structural reforms in energy, water, transport, digital communications, and visas
- [Operation Vulindlela summary](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/operation-vulindlela/summary-of-operation-vulindlela): What the reform programme is, how it works, and what it aims to achieve
- [Operation Vulindlela Phase II progress report (PDF)](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/assets/downloads/OV-ProgressReportQ32025-26.pdf): Phase II progress report for Q3 2025/26
- [State Capture Commission recommendations](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/state-capture-commission-recommendations): Actions, legislation, and progress on the Zondo Commission’s recommendations
- [#endGBVF](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/endGBVF): Campaign against gender-based violence and femicide, including a public pledge

## Official documents

- [SONA 2025 speech (PDF)](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/assets/downloads/SONA_2025_Speech.pdf): Full text of the 2025 State of the Nation Address
- [SONA 2025 debate reply (PDF)](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/assets/downloads/250213_SONA_2025_Debate_Reply.pdf): President’s reply to the parliamentary debate on SONA 2025
- [Opening of Parliament 2024 (PDF)](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/assets/downloads/openingofparliament-18july2024.pdf): Address at the opening of the Seventh Parliament, 18 July 2024
- [SONA 2024 speech (PDF)](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/assets/downloads/SONA_2024_080224.pdf): Full text of the 2024 State of the Nation Address
- [Roadmap for the digital transformation of government (PDF)](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/assets/downloads/South_Africa_Roadmap_for_the_Digital_Transformation.pdf): South Africa’s digital government transformation roadmap
- [30-year review executive summary (PDF)](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/assets/downloads/30YearReviewExecutiveSummary.pdf): Executive summary of the 30-year review of democratic South Africa
- [Commitments and achievements](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/page/commitments-and-achievements): Tracked presidential commitments and progress against them
- [Five-year progress review](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/page/five-year-progress-review-and-achievements-2023): 2019–2024 progress review, achievements, and impact stories

## News and communications

- [News](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/news): Latest news items related to the Presidency and SONA
- [Speeches](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/speeches): Presidential speeches, often with PDF text and video
- [Videos](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/videos): Video addresses and campaign films
- [From the Desk of the President](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/newsletters): Weekly newsletter from President Cyril Ramaphosa
- [Presidency on X](https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA): Official Presidency social account
- [Presidency on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/PresidencyZA): Official video channel, including SONA broadcasts

## Optional

- [30 Years of Freedom and Democracy](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/30-years-of-freedom-and-democracy): Review of 30 years of democratic government and the Bill of Rights
- [30 Years of Democracy timeline](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/30-years-of-democracy-south-africa): Interactive timeline of democratic milestones
- [SONA 2024 archive](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/2024): Materials from the 2024 address
- [SONA 2021](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-2021): 2021 address, COVID-19 response, and the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan
- [SONA 2020](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/sona-2020-feb/investment-and-economy): 2020 address archive, starting with investment and the economy
- [Sixth Administration priorities (archive)](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/priorities/growing-the-economy-and-jobs): Historical priority pages from the previous administration; do not treat as current policy unless confirmed elsewhere
- [Take Charge SA](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/takechargesa): Energy-saving campaign from the load-shedding period
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/privacy-policy): Terms of use, copyright, cookies, and privacy
- [The Presidency](https://www.thepresidency.gov.za/): Official Presidency website for the President, Deputy President, and daily government business
- [South African Government](https://www.gov.za/): Central government portal for departments, services, and gazettes