2024 National General Elections
CAPE TOWN – President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to announce the date for the 2024 national elections within 15 days of the State of the Nation Address, which is to be delivered tomorrow evening.
According to Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, “We look forward to the President delivering the State of the Nation Address tomorrow at 7pm. It will be the administration’s seventh – in a year which marks 30 years since Parliament ushered in the democratic dispensation.”
Magwenya also urged all South Africans to watch tomorrow’s address as it deals with the state of the nation, not only the state of one segment or some segments of the nation.
Regarding the President’s health, Magwenya stated, “We are united in the progress we have made and united in the work we need to do to address the challenges we face. Last night we were with him going through the draft [speech] until very late. By then he had improved significantly.”
In addition to the State of the Nation Address, President Ramaphosa will be participating in the annual Presidential Golf Challenge. The event will raise funds for the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, which will go toward constructing ablution facilities at schools in support of the Department of Basic Education’s SAFE Initiative.
The President’s playing partner in the golf challenge is 14-year-old Botshepehi Phakoe from Mangaung in the Free State. Magwenya joked, “We hope he doesn’t put too much pressure on the President on the first tee.”
This year’s SONA holds special significance as it is the address ahead of South Africa’s celebration of 30 years of freedom and democracy. It will set out government’s key policy objectives and deliverables for the year ahead, as well as highlight achievements, flag challenges, and outline interventions to unlock the country’s development.
The State of the Nation Address will mark the official start of the Parliamentary programme, and will be followed by a debate in the National Assembly and the President’s reply to the debate.