In his state of the nation address on Thursday (12/2) evening, Ramaphosa outlined plans to restructure Eskom into three separate entities and accelerate reforms under Operation Vulindlela, among others. He also announced that foot and mouth disease had been classified as a national disaster.

Operation Vulindlela was launched in 2020, and it focuses on transforming electricity, modernising freight logistics, ensuring a reliable water supply, and upgrading digital communications.

UFS head of economics and finance Prof. Johan Coetzee said he disagreed with suggestions that the address was inspirational or legacy-defining.

“Much of what we heard was familiar rhetoric,” said Coetzee. “There were commitments to fight crime, fix infrastructure, stimulate growth, and restore capacity. These themes have featured prominently in many, if not all, previous addresses.

“South Africa continues to struggle with persistent service delivery failures, infrastructure decay, and a stagnant economy. Repackaging long-standing challenges as renewed commitments does not constitute a successful legacy.”

Unless implementation accelerates and accountability becomes visible, the address risks being perceived as an attempt to mask a record marked by poor decision-making and political infighting, he said.

NWU economist Prof. Waldo Krugell echoed similar concerns. He said while the president was correct in identifying unemployment and crime as major challenges, many South Africans would remain skeptical about the pace of economic recovery.

Krugell acknowledged that Operation Vulindlela is making progress with structural reforms, but described it as slow and incremental. He also questioned the feasibility of some proposals.

“The economy is growing, but we’re talking about quarterly rates of 0.1%, 0.9%, and 0.5%,” he said. “The markets are not the economy; a strong JSE and lower interest rates have not led to much investment.”

“Eskom will be restructured into three entities, but we know that Eskom is now fighting back against the plan to make the transmission company independent. So exactly how is this going to happen?”

The Water Crisis commission declaring foot and mouth disease a national disaster is the right idea, but the high-speed trains sound simply unrealistic. “I estimate this Sona is about as good or as bad as the previous nine,” he said.

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OFM News/Zenande Mpame