Jobs and debt reduction top agenda in President’s State of the Nation Address

President Cyril Ramaphosa has delivered his State of the Nation Address (SONA), listing some of the government’s major wins over the last year.

Ramaphosa says the country has seen an economy that’s showing signs of positive growth, and his administration is also strengthening its anti-corruption fight and has rescued key institutions from “state capture”.

This was Ramaphosa’s second SONA under the Government of National Unity (GNU), which has placed economic growth and reducing unemployment at the centre of government’s strategy.

Last year’s SONA centred mainly on three pillars for the 7th administration, with economic growth, job creation, and creating a capable state at the top of the agenda.

This year, government will continue in the same vein, with job creation and tackling stubborn unemployment being key priorities.

President Ramaphosa also reminded the joint sitting that the country’s economy continues to grow after implementing a variety of reforms.

"While we have experienced four consecutive quarters of GDP growth, we know that it has to grow much higher and much faster to meet our social and economic challenges."

The President also says the country is working hard to address its debt challenge.

"We are on a clear path of stabilising our national debt. The Rand has strengthened against the Dollar. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange has performed exceptionally well over the past year."

In the fight against crime, Ramaphosa announced that he will be deploying the SA National Defence Force to help fight rising crime and illegal mining in provinces like Gauteng and the Western Cape.