Asked what her biggest concern was ahead of SONA, National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modishe said it was that they were "oversubscribed".

"That we might not have enough seats. Everybody who wants to come is on our back."

(Jaco Marais/Gallo Images/Netwerk24).

Mr President, please just start, start now

What we didn’t count on was the speed of the progress. Or lack thereof. Whether he was stalled by fear, insecurity or a lack of support from his party, Ramaphosa's track record has been dismal, writes Howard Feldman.

I don't want to tell President Cyril Ramaphosa what to say in tomorrow's State of the Nation Address.

It is not that I, much like most other South Africans, don't have some wonderful ideas for him. It's not that I don't have a list of priorities, and a handy "Do and Don't!" cheat sheet.

OPINION | Ramaphosa has to respond to our expectations and fears

The presidency, under Jacob Zuma, was the least trusted institution in 2017, while in 2019, under Ramaphosa, levels of public confidence in the presidency doubled, writes Mikhail Moosa.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will have to respond to our collective expectations and fears in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA).

What are the issues that South Africans want the president to address in his fourth SONA on Thursday?