EFF Leader Julius Malema
By Thabo Mosia
Cape Town – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has dismissed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA) as “out of touch with reality,” accusing him of failing to provide meaningful solutions to South Africa’s economic crisis.
Speaking during the SONA debate in Parliament on 11 February 2025, Malema criticised Ramaphosa’s leadership, arguing that his address lacked accountability and did not reflect the lived experiences of ordinary South Africans.
“There was no sense of accountability, no meaningful reporting, and no acknowledgment of the economic crisis facing our people,” Malema told MPs.The EFF leader further accused Ramaphosa of failing to provide updates on the National Development Plan (NDP), questioning whether it was still guiding the country’s policy direction.
“Today, we have the Medium-Term Development Plan, but its direction and impact remain unclear—just another failed NDP.”Malema: ‘No Clear Economic Plan’ Amid South Africa’s Struggles
Malema argued that South Africa remains in an economic crisis, with unemployment and poverty worsening under Ramaphosa’s administration.
“There is no clear strategy to create jobs while more than 12 million people remain unemployed, the economy is stagnant, and these are undeniable facts. We are facing a crisis as a nation.”He listed the various crises affecting South Africans, including:
• Soaring food prices
• Unaffordable transport costs
• Rising fuel prices
• Gender-based violence and femicide
• The collapse of the National Gender-Based Violence Command Centre
• Water shortages and inadequate housing
• Dysfunctional municipalities
Malema blamed Ramaphosa’s leadership for these ongoing struggles, claiming that his promises since 2018 had led to no meaningful change.
Malema: ‘Ramaphosa’s Promises Have Not Been Kept’
Malema accused the President of making empty promises year after year without delivering results.
“In 2018, you said you would focus on rebuilding, yet things only got worse for our people. In 2019, you said ‘Thuma Mina’—the nation sent you, but to this day, we do not know what you went and did.”He also pointed to Ramaphosa’s 2019 promise of high-speed trains and a smart city, asking why these projects never materialised.
“That same year, you stood before South Africa and promised speed trains and a smart city. Where are they?”Criticism of Ramaphosa’s Anti-Corruption Efforts
Malema further attacked Ramaphosa’s handling of corruption, particularly regarding state capture and the Zondo Commission report.
“You said 2020 would be the year of tackling state capture and ensuring accountability, yet not a single person has been arrested despite the R1 billion spent on the Zondo Commission report.”He added that, despite Ramaphosa’s 2022 commitment to fixing governance failures, corruption continues to thrive across all spheres of government—including the judiciary.
‘Tintswalo Does Not Exist’: Malema’s Harshest Criticism
One of Malema’s most scathing remarks targeted Ramaphosa’s 2024 SONA anecdote about “Tintswalo,” a fictional character symbolising South Africa’s progress.
Malema dismissed the story, saying it failed to reflect the realities of South African women.
“And when you tried to tell us the story of Tintswalo in 2024, we told you right there and then that you were talking about a Tintswalo who does not exist.”He continued:
“The real Tintswalo was born in a shack, raped at the age of six, dropped out of school before reaching Grade 7, and was murdered while looking for a job.”His remarks sparked mixed reactions in Parliament, with opposition parties agreeing with his assessment, while the ANC dismissed it as political posturing.
ANC’s Response: ‘Ramaphosa’s SONA Was Focused’
In contrast, ANC Parliamentary Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli defended Ramaphosa, praising his leadership and legislative achievements.
“Given the important challenges we continue to face, the ANC steadfastly believes that this leadership echelon gathered here and representing all spheres of our government, must continue to be driven by a sense of urgency in everything we do, in responding to the plights of our people and Black people in general, who continue to endure the hardship of the apartheid legacy,” Ntuli said.He highlighted Ramaphosa’s signing of key laws, including:
• The Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act
• The National Health Insurance (NHI) Act
• The Expropriation Act
Ntuli also dismissed Malema’s attacks, saying the SONA effectively incorporated the ANC’s six key priorities, which remain central to its governance approach.
“This Parliament will ensure that both the President and his government spare no effort or energy in implementing these national priorities.”
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