EFF adamant that it will disrupt Ramaphosa's SONA

The EFF has defended its plans to disrupt President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address, saying it formed part of the party’s oversight work.

Secretary general Marshall Dlamini on Thursday said the party would not pull back from its plans to hold Ramaphosa accountable for appointing Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan to his Cabinet.

In the past, the EFF disrupted former president Jacob Zuma's SONA addresses, calling for him to resign and pay back the money that went towards renovations of his homestead in Nkandla.

Parliament not distracted by EFF claims of plan to 'smuggle' police into SONA

Parliament has described open threats of violence or the propagation of "conspiracy theories" as distractions, as the EFF claims the institution intends using police officers to prevent disruptions during President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday.

On Tuesday, the EFF claimed in a statement it had learnt that Parliament's security team was planning to "smuggle" police officers disguised as protection officers into the House, and was holding secret meetings in that regard.

Only Parliamentary security will be in the House, not police - Bheki Cele

Police Minister Bheki Cele says only parliamentary security, not police, will be inside the National Assembly chamber when President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday.

Cele spoke to journalists during his inspection tour around Parliament on Thursday morning.

He made this statement on the back of EFF claims that Parliament's security team was planning to "smuggle" police officers disguised as protection officers into the House.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi - the president's invited guest at SONA - shares a message for the Ramaphosa: 'We'll do everything to make South Africa amazing'

"I'm excited to hear what you're going to say and what the plans are for South Africa. I'm confident the best is ahead for us as a country, and I'm looking forward to what you're going to share and everyone buying into it, and we'll do everything we can to make South Africa amazing"

(Laird Forbes/Gallo Images)

Mbhazima Shilowa | SONA: New dawn? More like dusk is setting

Do I believe that the president is capable of rising to the challenge? It is not for me to say. He went to the people asking them to back him and promising to turn the ship around in return, writes Mbhazima Shilowa.

Today the president will deliver his second State of the Nation Address following the general elections held in May last year.

In a sense this is his real State of the Nation Address.During the first one he outlined a five to 10 year plan in general terms whereas now he's expected to back it up with a programme of action, plans and resources to make it a reality.

Ramaphosa promises to unveil details of bold plan for SA's jobless youth

Statistics South Africa announced that the official unemployment numbers for the fourth quarter of 2019 remained unchanged at 29.1% - the highest rate since 2008 compared to the third quarter of 2019.

"Any country that is serious about its development, prosperity and its future cannot be complacent that such a large percentage of the population of working age is languishing in unemployment," the president said.

(Brenton Geach/Gallo)

'That's how it's going to roll': EFF gears up for SONA rumble

The EFF will use President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address (SONA) to call for the removal of Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan if he has not already been removed by then, its leader, Julius Malema, announced on Sunday. 

"That's how it's going to roll," said Malema, promising that 2020 was going to be a "very interesting year".

(Laird Forbes/Gallo Images)

News24's wall-to-wall coverage of Ramaphosa's fourth SONA: news, analysis and live streams

What are government's plans for Eskom?

Will SAA remain a going concern?

Will South Africans get an update on state capture crimes?

And will Julius Malema and the EFF again disrupt proceedings?

Steenhuisen on eve of SONA: Ramaphosa an 'incapable head of an incapable state'

"The incapable head of an incapable state."

This is how DA interim leader John Steenhuisen described President Cyril Ramaphosa in his "alternative State of the Nation Address" in Cape Town on Wednesday, a day before Ramaphosa is due to deliver the real deal to an expectant nation.

Over the past two weeks, Steenhuisen has criss-crossed the country, following in the footsteps of the DA's "founding member and first lady of liberalism, Helen Suzman".

Ramaphosa's approval rating in decline since he took over in 2018 - Ipsos survey

A recent survey has found that, while 62% of South Africans think President Cyril Ramaphosa is doing his job well, his approval rating has dropped since he took office in February 2018.

Findings from an Ipsos survey, titled 'Pulse of the People', conducted towards the end of 2019, shows that Ramaphosa still holds favour in the majority of South African households, who believe he is doing a good job.

According to the findings, 25% of those who took the survey said that Ramaphosa was doing his job very well, while 37% of those interviewed said he was doing his job fairly well.

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?