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State of the Nation 2026: Citizens’ Voices, Government Promises
Welcome to the SONA 2026 Promise Tracker
Each year, the President outlines government priorities in the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
This tracker turns those promises into civic evidence. Explore the commitments, vote on their progress, and share your experience. Together, we hold government accountable.
Turning expectations into evidence, promises into accountability.
Loading ... Loading ... Loading ...SONA 2026
| Promise | Policy Area | Date Made | Status | Evidence / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| test 1 | test 1 | feb 26 | on going | none |
| Pending | ||||
| In Progress | ||||
| Broken | ||||
What Members of Parliament Say:
Great Support Team
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Very Powerful
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Excellent Service
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Sponsors
Why SONA Matters
SONA is not just a speech—it is a national accountability moment. Each year, the President must:
• Account to citizens on what government has achieved since the last address.
• Set out policy objectives and deliverables for the year ahead.
• Flag challenges and outline interventions to unlock potential.
This makes SONA a touchstone for democracy. It reassures citizens that government is listening, while also providing a benchmark against which promises can be tracked. For civil society, media, and platforms like MandateMeter, it is a chance to turn words into evidence and measure delivery.
Where We Are Now
In recent years, SONA has taken on even greater weight. For example, the 2025 SONA carried the theme “A nation that works, for all”, reflecting government’s focus on economic recovery and social inclusion. It highlighted progress on the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP), while acknowledging persistent challenges like unemployment and inequality.
By 2026, SONA is not just about promises—it is about trust and credibility. Citizens increasingly demand that commitments made in the address translate into tangible improvements in daily life. Platforms like MandateMeter amplify this by tracking promises, inviting public voices, and reframing frustrations into civic evidence.
The Bigger Picture
SONA started as a constitutional requirement, but today it is a national conversation about justice, delivery, and hope. It reflects how far South Africa has come in embedding democratic accountability, while also exposing the gap between government promises and lived realities.
In short: SONA is both a stage and a scorecard. It began as a formal opening of Parliament, but now it is a test of whether government can deliver on the aspirations of its people.
How Parliament is Constructed
South Africa has a bicameral Parliament, meaning it consists of two Houses that work together to make laws, oversee government, and represent citizens:
• National Assembly (NA)
• Composed of 400 Members of Parliament (MPs).
• Seats are allocated proportionally based on the number of votes each party receives in national elections.
• The Assembly elects the Speaker, who presides over debates and ensures parliamentary rules are followed.
• Its role is to represent the people directly, pass laws, and hold the executive accountable.
• National Council of Provinces (NCOP)
• Composed of 90 delegates (10 from each of the 9 provinces).
• Each provincial legislature sends a delegation that reflects the political balance of that province.
• The NCOP ensures that provincial interests are represented in national decision-making.
• It plays a key role in cooperative governance, especially on laws that affect provinces.
Seat Structure in Practice
• National Assembly (400 seats):
• Example: If a party wins 50% of the national vote, it secures about 200 seats.
• This proportional system ensures minority parties also gain representation, even if they don’t win outright majorities.
• NCOP (90 seats):
• Each province sends 6 permanent delegates and 4 special delegates.
• Delegations mirror the composition of provincial legislatures, so smaller parties also have a voice.
Why This Matters for SONA
• The SONA is delivered in a joint sitting of both Houses, meaning all 490 representatives (400 MPs + 90 NCOP delegates) are present.
• This structure symbolizes the unity of national and provincial interests, and it’s why SONA is such a powerful accountability moment: the President speaks not only to citizens but to the full spectrum of political representation
To find out how parliament is structured you can read on: https://www.parliament.gov.za/how-parliament-is-structured
SONA Promises Timeline (2018–2025)
This table provides a year‑by‑year overview of the promises made in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Addresses (SONA) from 2018 to 2025. Each row highlights the central themes of that year’s speech, the approximate number of major commitments announced, and contextual notes about the political or social environment at the time.| Year | Key Themes / Promises | Approx. Promise Focus | Notes | Do you believe it was Delivered? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 (First SONA) | Economic renewal, job creation, tackling corruption, land reform | ~10–12 major commitments | First address after Zuma’s resignation; emphasis on “new dawn” and restoring trust. | |
| 2019 | Accelerating growth, Eskom restructuring, youth employment, healthcare improvements | ~12–15 | Focused on stabilizing SOEs, expanding youth employment initiatives, and improving service delivery. | |
| 2020 | Infrastructure investment, energy security, anti‑corruption drive, education reform | ~15–18 | Delivered just before COVID‑19 lockdown; promises later reshaped by pandemic response. | |
| 2021 | Vaccine rollout, economic recovery, social relief, fighting gender‑based violence | ~12–14 | Heavy emphasis on pandemic response and rebuilding livelihoods. | |
| 2022 | Ending load shedding, job creation, tackling poverty, crime prevention | ~15–20 | Energy crisis dominated; repeated promise to fix Eskom and expand renewables. | |
| 2023 | Four core issues: load shedding, unemployment, poverty/cost of living, crime/corruption | ~10–12 | Streamlined promises, focusing on urgent crises. | |
| 2024 | 30 years of democracy (“Tintswalo” theme), youth opportunities, social safety nets, deepening democracy | ~12–15 | Symbolic framing of democratic gains; promises tied to legacy of 1994. | |
| 2025 (GNU era) | Inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction, energy reforms, infrastructure, crime prevention | ~15–18 | First SONA under Government of National Unity; promises framed as collective delivery. |