President Cyril Ramaphosa will likely touch on simmering tensions with the US and its president Donald Trump (maybe Elon Musk as well), especially after another escalation in the early hours of Thursday.
US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said he would skip the G20 talks scheduled for late February 2025 in Johannesburg, accusing South Africa of “doing very bad things” and having “anti-American” agenda.
South Africa is the incumbent holder of the the G20 presidency, from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to deliver the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the seventh Parliament on Thursday evening in Cape Town.
Ramaphosa, who will be delivering his eighth SONA as head of state, is expected to outline government’s plans to reduce poverty, create employment and tackle the high crime rate, among other issues plaguing South Africa.
“In the address, the president will outline the task of the Government of National Unity in implementing the three strategic priorities of the Medium-Term Development Plan, namely, driving inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living and building a capable, ethical and developmental state,” Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said on Wednesday.
Fine weather – but windy conditions – forecast for SONA 2025
Attendees of the joint sitting of Parliament can expect fine weather conditions as President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the SONA in Cape Town on Thursday evening.
“We are expecting fine weather conditions with a minimum of 17°C and a maximum of 24°C.
“For the Western Cape, there will be a 30% chance of showers and rain along the south coast but it will be a fine day with no precipitation in Cape Town,” South African Weather Service meteorologist and forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela confirmed.
