Pre-SONA considerations for moving South Africa onto a growth trajectory

This report by Good Governance Africa (GGA) provides policy recommendations 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, improving municipal governance, reforming state-owned enterprises, and asserting a more cohesive regional and global leadership role, particularly regarding climate action and democratic integrity in Southern Africa.

• Economic growth in South Africa is hindered by structural issues; while growth may reach 2% in 2025, this is considered "negligible real growth" that is unlikely to reduce structural unemployment, which requires growth rates of at least 5%. Additionally, rising electricity prices are reducing investment competitiveness, particularly in energy-intensive manufacturing sectors.
• Local government governance is characterized by weak service delivery and poor financial management. In the 2022-2023 audit results, R241.1 billion in unauthorised expenditure was revealed, and only 34 of the 257 municipalities received clean audits, with a concentration in the Western Cape province.
• South Africa's regional influence has been undermined by weak responses to electoral crises in Zimbabwe (2023) and Mozambique (2024). The report recommends a more proactive role within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), including stronger observer missions and the operationalization of an independent SADC Peace and Security Fund to respond to crises like the insurgency in Mozambique.
• The report calls for the wholesale governance redesign of major State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), specifically Eskom and Transnet, to ensure they provide the infrastructure necessary to support industrial capacity and mining growth.
• To address social instability and anti-migrant sentiment, the report suggests establishing a multi-agency border coordination unit involving the South African Police Service (SAPS), South African Revenue Service (SARS), South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and Home Affairs to improve security and facilitate legal trade.
• South Africa has passed the Climate Change Act (July 2024) to advance climate resilience and a just energy transition. The report emphasizes the need to integrate climate goals into fiscal policy and foster public-private partnerships to move away from a carbon-intensive economy.
• Law enforcement and judicial institutions, such as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and SAPS, require insulation from political interference to restore public trust. While some progress is noted, such as a decrease in contact crime in the 2024/2025 second quarter, concerns remain regarding institutional capture and the lack of high-profile prosecutions following the Zondo Commission.
• The Government of National Unity (GNU) is urged to develop a unified and cohesive foreign policy stance to avoid fragmented policies and to better engage with global forums like the G20 and regional agreements such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

APA

Good Governance Africa (2025). Pre-SONA considerations for moving South Africa onto a growth trajectory. https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2025/02/GGA_SONA_2025.pdf

Chicago

Good Governance Africa. Pre-SONA considerations for moving South Africa onto a growth trajectory. 2025. https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2025/02/GGA_SONA_2025.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Good Governance Africa |title=Pre-SONA considerations for moving South Africa onto a growth trajectory |date=February 2025 |url=https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2025/02/GGA_SONA_2025.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{goodgovernanceafrica2025presona, author = {{Good Governance Africa}}, title = {{Pre-SONA considerations for moving South Africa onto a growth trajectory}}, institution = {Good Governance Africa}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2025/02/GGA_SONA_2025.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }