Ramaphosa's Record: Promises vs. Progress in South Africa – A Response to SONA 2026

Cyril Ramaphosa assumed the presidency of South Africa in 2018 amid high hopes for renewal, promising to tackle corruption, revive the economy, and deliver on infrastructure dreams. His annual State of the Nation Addresses (SONAs) from 2021 to 2025 outlined ambitious visions, including job creation, anti-corruption reforms, smart cities, high-speed trains, and support for struggling industries.

Yet, as South Africa grapples with persistent challenges like high unemployment, crime, and economic inequality, critics argue these pledges often amount to rhetoric without results. below we examine key promises from Ramaphosa’s SONAs over the past five years, assessing delivery based on available data and analyses.

While some progress has been made in areas like energy stability and health reforms, failures in corruption enforcement, job creation, and infrastructure highlight systemic hurdles. A balanced view reveals a presidency marked by marginal incremental gains and structural declines, and while outright ineffectiveness may not be the most accurate label, President Ramaphosa is perhaps more the President of Promise rather than one of Progress.

Key Promises: A Thematic Breakdown

Ramaphosa’s SONAs emphasized recovery from COVID-19, economic reconstruction, and long-term development under the National Development Plan (NDP). Core themes included job creation, infrastructure, crime and corruption, industrial support, and social services. Below is a summary drawn from official transcripts and analyses from the past five SONA speeches.

Economy and Job Creation

Ramaphosa repeatedly prioritized inclusive growth and employment, targeting millions of jobs through stimulus programs.

• 2021 SONA: Launch the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) to create over 1 million jobs via public employment schemes; aim for 3%+ GDP growth.
• 2022 SONA: Expand the Presidential Employment Stimulus to 1 million opportunities; focus on youth employment via the National Youth Service.
• 2023 SONA: Commit to 2 million youth jobs by 2030 under NDP; accelerate ERRP for post-COVID recovery.
• 2024 SONA: Pledge R940 billion in infrastructure spending over three years to drive jobs; extend Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.
• 2025 SONA: Target growth above 3% to create jobs and reduce poverty; redesign SRD grant for skills and livelihoods.

Infrastructure Development

Visions of modern, connected South Africa featured prominently, including “smart cities” and high-speed rail.

• 2021 SONA: Announce infrastructure-led recovery with R100 billion in projects; revive rail and ports.
• 2022 SONA: Promise high-speed rail corridors (e.g., Johannesburg-Durban); invest in digital infrastructure like broadband for schools.
• 2023 SONA: Commit to “smart city” development in Lanseria for 350,000-500,000 residents; upgrade N2/N3 highways.
• 2024 SONA: Outline second-wave logistics reforms for Transnet; build rural bridges and roads.
• 2025 SONA: Reaffirm high-speed rail feasibility studies; unlock R100 billion for infrastructure.

Crime and Corruption

Ramaphosa campaigned on “renewal,” promising accountability.

• 2021 SONA: Strengthen anti-corruption bodies; implement Zondo Commission recommendations.
• 2022 SONA: Enforce ANC “step-aside” rule for charged officials; boost policing with 10,000 new recruits.
• 2023 SONA: Establish permanent anti-corruption commission; halve violent crime by 2030.
• 2024 SONA: Deploy tech for crime-fighting; protect whistleblowers via new legislation.
• 2025 SONA: Zero tolerance for corruption; introduce Whistle-Blower Protection Bill.

Industrial and Sector Support

Focus on mining, steel, ferrochrome, and automotive amid global pressures.

• 2021 SONA: Revive mining through regulatory reforms; support steel via localization.
• 2022 SONA: Implement Steel Master Plan to protect jobs; address energy costs for smelters.
• 2023 SONA: Boost ferrochrome and mining via infrastructure; counter illegal mining.
• 2024 SONA: Aid automotive sector with incentives; tackle ferrochrome decline.
• 2025 SONA: Prioritise critical minerals strategy; support strained industries like steel.

Social Services (Education, Health, Water)

• 2021-2025 SONAs: Promises included digital tablets for schools, NHI rollout, water agency establishment, and expanded ECD.

Delivery Assessment: Hits, Misses, and Ongoing Efforts

Evaluating delivery requires nuance: South Africa faced global headwinds like COVID-19, energy crises, and inflation. Progress is mixed, with some targets met through programs like the Presidential Employment Stimulus, but systemic issues persist. The table below summarizes key promises and outcomes, based on government reports, independent analyses, and economic data.

Successes include: Ending load-shedding (2025 promise met via energy reforms) but leaving high energy rates as a consequence hurting industrial developments, exiting FATF grey list, and NHI legislation – small steps toward stability. The ERRP and stimulus provided short-term relief, creating opportunities for 5.6M youth. However, unemployment remains at crisis levels (42% expanded unemployment rate), and growth lags far off NDP targets.

Failures are evident in corruption: The step-aside rule, meant to sideline charged ANC officials, has been applied inconsistently, protecting allies while targeting rivals. Zondo recommendations languish, with Transparency International noting no progress. Infrastructure dreams like smart cities and bullet trains remain conceptual, with Lanseria undeveloped and rail studies ongoing. Industries face collapse: Ferro-chrome production has halved due to high energy costs, steel mills have been shuttered, mining hit by illegal opperators, and automotive firms like Nissan have exited manufacturing in SA exacerbating job losses.

Commissions (e.g., Zondo, Madlanga) have proliferated but often ignored, fueling perceptions of inaction. Water crises persist, with agencies delayed amid protests.

Contextual Factors: Challenges Beyond the Presidency

Ramaphosa’s tenure isn’t solely to blame. Global events have arguably disrupted recovery, but are far from the key issues holding economic growth back. Africa’s GDP growth in 2025 was 4.2% while South Africa barely made 1% growth. Policy delays such as that promised for the EV manufacturing opportunities for market have hurt industry prospects and high energy and transport costs have added additional burden to all industries. ANC internal factions have also hindered reforms in sectors such as mining that has seen mining groups move new investments elsewhere globally restricting job growth and export revenues.

Energy crises pre-dated his presidency, and though his administration has now stabilised Eskom, there is still policy lags holding back cost reducing opportunities.

Critics like the EFF and ActionSA decry “empty promises,” but allies point to coalition constraints in the GNU (post-2024). Independent assessments do show partial delivery, with systemic issues like municipal failures undermining national pledges.

A Clear Picture: Effective Leader or Enabler of Stagnation?

Ramaphosa is perhaps not “SA’s most ineffective president,” as some claim, but his failure to take active decisions, drive policy adoption and reforms as well as his failure to implement robust crime and corruption curbing action will leave his legacy one of questionable leadership. His anti-corruption rhetoric hasn’t fully translated, allowing perceptions of obfuscation amid ANC scandals.

Promises often serve as aspirational frameworks, but delivery gaps stem from implementation failures, and not just intent. For a “deeply corrupt” government, the hope would have been a cleaner house from a President who came to power on such a promise. Evidence shows stagnation, not reversal, under Ramaphosa where corruption and slow economic growth persists, while some efforts have seen the needle starting to move – such as energy supply.

South Africa needs bolder enforcement: Full step-aside adherence, Zondo prosecutions, and industry bailouts/reforms. As 2026 local elections loom, Ramaphosa’s legacy hinges on bridging promises and progress. Voters will decide if it’s renewal or rhetoric.