His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the SoNA to a hybrid Joint Sitting of the two houses of Parliament – the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces – in Cape Town on Thursday, 10 February 2022.
In his opening remarks, the President said “this year, for the first time since the dawn of our democracy, the SoNA is not being delivered in the Chamber of the National Assembly.” On 2 January 2022, a raging fire damaged the Old Assembly Chamber and building, the National Assembly Chamber and critical offices of Parliament. As a result of the extensive damage, the SoNA in 2022 was held at the Cape Town City Hall.
“As we entered this new year, a huge fire engulfed the seat of our democracy. We all watched in outrage and sadness as the flames devoured the buildings in which our democratic Constitution was born, in which laws of transformation and progress have been passed, in which the freely-chosen representatives of the people have shaped our young nation.
“For many, what happened in Parliament speaks to a broader devastation in our land. For many, the fire was symbolic of the devastation caused by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, by rising unemployment and deepening poverty.
“It spoke to the devastation of a pandemic that over the past two years has taken the lives of tens of thousands of South Africans, put two million people out of work and brought misery to families.
“The fire in Parliament reminded us of the destruction, violence and looting that we witnessed in parts of the country in July last year, of the more than 300 lives lost and many more livelihoods ruined. As we reflect on the past year, we recall the words of President Thabo Mbeki who reminded us that: “Trying times need courage and resilience. Our strength as a people is not tested during the best of times”.
‘That we are gathered together in the Cape Town City Hall instead of the National Assembly Chamber reflects the extraordinary circumstances of this time. It reflects the determination of the Presiding Officers of Parliament and indeed all the members of our two houses that the work of this democratic institution should continue without interruption.
“There are moments in the life of a nation when old certainties are unsettled and new possibilities emerge. In these moments, there is both the prospect of great progress and the risk of reversal. Today, we are faced with such a moment.
“The path we choose now will determine the course for future generations. That is why we are taking steps to strengthen our democracy and reaffirm our commitment to a Constitution that protects us all. We are working together to revitalise our economy and end the inequality and injustice that impedes our progress.
“We are standing together against corruption and to ensure that those who are responsible for state capture are punished for their crimes. We are rebuilding the State and restoring trust and pride in public institutions. If there is one thing we all agree on, it is that the present situation – of deep poverty, unemployment and inequality – is unacceptable and unsustainable.
“There is agreement among a broad and diverse range of South Africans that fundamental reforms are needed to revive economic growth. There is a need both to address the immediate crisis and to create conditions for long-lasting stability and development. To achieve this, South Africa needs a new consensus.
“A consensus that is born out of a common understanding of our current challenging situation and a recognition of the need to address the challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
“This should be a new consensus which recognises that the State must create an environment in which the private sector can invest and unleash the dynamism of the economy. But equally, an environment in which South Africans can live a better life and unleash the energy of their capabilities.
“This should also be a new consensus which embraces our shared responsibility to one another, and acknowledges that we are all in this together. As the social partners – government, labour, business and communities – we are working to determine the actions we will take together to build such a consensus.
“We have begun discussions on what trade-offs are needed and what contribution we will each need to make.” – President Cyril Ramaphosa, SoNA, 10 February 2022, Cape Town City Hall.
Source: State of the Nation Address Highlights [PDF]
