Thursday | February 11, 2021
South Africa – On a day best remembered for the release from prison of the first democratic President of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) the late former Nelson Mandela, the current incumbent of the highest office in the land will present the blueprint for the year ahead.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is going to deliver the eagerly anticipated State Of The Nation (SONA) 2021 on Thursday Feb. 11 in the evening at 19:00.
Unlike the former years, this year’s SONA will take place virtually, saving the country millions of tax-payer’s money.
The South African government said:
“Due to the limited number of persons permitted within the precincts of Parliament, and Parliament’s sensitivity to the prevailing conditions, various ceremonial aspects that usually characterise the SONA have been suspended. In this regard, there will be no red carpet and procession of the three arms of the state, physical participation of junior and civil guard of honour, eminent persons, Imbongi, military parade that leads the presidential procession onto a saluting dais on the steps of the National Assembly, the guard of honour by the National Ceremonial Guard and the 21-gun salute.“
The Speaker of the National Assembly said the expenditure for the digital speech by the President costs over R100, 000 at the moment as opposed to millions in the past. The savings, she explained, will be redirected to improve the digitization of the legislature arm of government.
The speech by the President is really a reflection of what milestones have notched up since the the previous one. It also paints a picture of where are as a nation at this very juncture. Further, it gives a direction of the programmes that the government will focus on in 2021.
Over and above this, this historic address comes at a time when country is at the clutches of an epidemic that has gripped the world by unrelenting storm.
As it is, the dominant issues on the boil in the country, as any where else, at the moment are the ailing economy and loss of life as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. To date, 47, 145 deaths have been recorded and 1 482 412 confirmed cases reportrd in South Africa.
There are pressing socio-economic matters that President Ramaphosa must tackle head with urgency. SONA will be followed by the the budget speech by the Minister of Finance in fews time henceforth.