Pre-SONA Considerations for Moving SA onto a Growth Trajectory

This briefing by Good Governance Africa (GGA) outlines policy priorities for the South African government ahead of the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA). It argues that economic growth is contingent upon strengthening political institutions, professionalising the public service, and improving governance at the municipal level. The document emphasizes the need for a cohesive regional strategy within SADC and the AfCFTA, the operationalisation of the Climate Change Act, and the restoration of public trust through electoral reform and accountability.

• Economic growth in South Africa is unlikely to materialize without strengthening political institutions and accountability to create an environment for economic dynamism. While growth may reach 2% this year, this is considered "negligible real growth" after inflation, and structural unemployment is unlikely to be reduced unless growth exceeds 5%.
• South Africa's regional influence has been weakened by inconsistent foreign policy and poor responses to electoral crises in Mozambique (2024) and Zimbabwe (2023). The briefing recommends a more proactive role in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), including the creation of an independent SADC Peace and Security Fund to address crises such as the insurgency in Mozambique.
• Municipal governance is characterized by weak performance, declining audit outcomes, and inefficient service delivery. In the 2022-2023 audit results, R241.1 billion in unauthorised expenditure was revealed, and only 34 out of 257 municipalities received clean audits, mostly in the Western Cape province.
• Despite efforts to rebuild law enforcement institutions like the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Hawks after the state capture era, confidence is undermined by political interference and a lack of high-profile prosecutions following the Zondo Commission.
• The Climate Change Act, passed in July 2024, is a key step toward a just energy transition and climate resilience. However, its effective operationalisation depends on professionalising the public service and improving financial resource management at the local government level.
• The 2024 general election saw an all-time low voter turnout, signaling widespread dissatisfaction with the political system. The briefing advocates for electoral reform and enhanced citizen engagement to rebuild trust in democratic institutions.

APA

Africa, G. G. (2025). Pre-SONA Considerations for Moving SA onto a Growth Trajectory. Good Governance Africa. https://gga.org/pre-sona-considerations-for-moving-sa-onto-a-growth-trajectory/

Chicago

Africa, Good Governance. Pre-SONA Considerations for Moving SA onto a Growth Trajectory. Good Governance Africa, 2025. https://gga.org/pre-sona-considerations-for-moving-sa-onto-a-growth-trajectory/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Africa |first1=Good Governance |title=Pre-SONA Considerations for Moving SA onto a Growth Trajectory |publisher=Good Governance Africa |date=3 February 2025 |url=https://gga.org/pre-sona-considerations-for-moving-sa-onto-a-growth-trajectory/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{africa2025presona, author = {Africa, Good Governance}, title = {{Pre-SONA Considerations for Moving SA onto a Growth Trajectory}}, institution = {Good Governance Africa}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://gga.org/pre-sona-considerations-for-moving-sa-onto-a-growth-trajectory/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }