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Sona

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President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the state of the nation address on Thursday night.Image: GCIS

Relief as R350 Covid-19 distress grant extended for another year

Millions of South Africans who benefited from the R350 Covid-19 social relief of distress (SRD) grant can breathe a sigh of relief, as the government has decided to keep it going for another year. “Mindful of the proven benefits of the…

The 2022 state of the nation address was delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday.Image: Jaco Marais

State of disaster to end ‘soon’: Ramaphosa

President pushes for more people to get vaccinated, saying he ‘would not be standing here before you’ if he hadn’t received his Covid-19 shot President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday announced the government’s intentions to end the national…

President Cyril Ramaphosa before he delivered his state of the nation address in parliament on February 11 2021.Image: GCIS

Load-shedding far from over, as Cyril Ramaphosa says Eskom predicts power shortfall for next five years

Eskom is projecting an energy shortfall of up to 6,000 megawatts in the next five years, which means load-shedding appears far from over. President Cyril Ramaphosa said this on Thursday during his state of the nation address. Ramaphosa…

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his Sona on Thursday night.Image: Esa Alexander

Sighs of relief as Cyril Ramaphosa says R350 and TERS grants will be extended

Millions of needy South Africans who were benefiting from the monthly special Covid-19 social relief of distress grant of R350 can breathe a sigh of relief. This is after President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday announced that the grant…

President Cyril Ramaphosa reads through his state of the nation address notes on Thursday, just hours before speaking in parliament.Image: GCIS

There’s been progress but corruption remains ‘great impediment’ to growth — Cyril Ramaphosa during Sona

President Cyril Ramaphosa has labelled corruption as one of the greatest impediments to the country’s growth and development, saying the matter needed urgent attention. During his state of the nation address on Thursday night, Ramaphosa…

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his state of the nation address in parliament on Thursday.Image: Esa Alexander

Cyril Ramaphosa confirms arrival of 80,000 J&J vaccines next week

President says during Sona that SA has secured 9 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the first batch of 80,000 Johnson & Johnson vaccination doses will arrive in the country next week. Ramaphosa…

Parliament was empty before President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address on February 11 2021.Image: GCIS

Regaining lost time in education a priority, says Cyril Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa said it was a priority that the education sector regains the time it lost to the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking during his state of the nation address (Sona) on Thursday night, Ramaphosa said: “Of the many…

President Cyril RamaphosaImage: GCIS

OPINION: What is Ramaphosa likely to tell us at tomorrow’s SONA?

The 2021 State of the Nation Address (SONA) will take place tomorrow evening during a period when a world-wide pandemic has devastated economies around the world and restricted the movement of people between countries and even within…

Parliament’s powers and privileges committee, which deals with disciplinary matters affecting MPs, will meet on Tuesday over the EFF’s disruptive behaviour in parliament.Image: ESA ALEXANDER/SUNDAY TIMES

Parliament to consider action against EFF over Sona disruption

Chickens are coming home to roost for the EFF as its MPs face up to disrupting the state of the nation address (Sona) over the presence of former apartheid president FW de Klerk and their attack on public enterprises minister Pravin…

Sona: Ramaphosa announces new university for Ekurhuleni

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday plans to build a new University of Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni‚ east of Johannesburg. This is a victory for Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina‚ who had been lobbying government for…

EFF MPs. Picture: ESA ALEXANDER

EFF disrupts Sona: De Klerk must leave‚ Gordhan must be fired

The EFF disrupted the proceedings at the opening of parliament on Thursday by objecting to the presence of apartheid’s last president‚ FW de Klerk. Julius Malema stood up before National Assembly speaker Thandi Modise called on President…

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WATCH: ‘Talking time is over’ – Highlights from Sona 2019

President Cyril Ramaphosa tackled numerous issues during his State of the nation address on June 20 2019. From recouping money lost to State Capture, Eskom’s continuous woes to youth unemployment and Investment into South Africa – here’s…

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WATCH: ‘We are a country of dreamers’: Politicians react to SONA 2019

Politicians took to the media on June 20 2019 after the second instalment of the state of the nation address by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Tiso Blackstar Group

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WATCH: DA invites Trolley Dollies to State of the Nation

The first female impersonators took to parliament’s red carpet for SONA on June 20 2019. The Trolley Dollies are Holly, Cathy and Molly and were invited as guests of the DA. The Trolley Dollies are more famously known as part of Cape…