Sona 2025 Highlights: 10 Key Takeaways From The Speech

From visa reforms to tackling corruption, President Cyril Ramaphosas address outlined the countrys path forward, Cape town Etc reports.

In his State of the Nation Address SONA for 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa set the tone for an ambitious year ahead, touching on key areas ranging from digital transformation to combating corruption and fostering economic growth. Here are the key takeaways from his address.

President Ramaphosa announced that over 90 of the backlog of more than 300 000 visa applications had been cleared. To further streamline the visa process, the government is introducing an electric travel authorisation system, which will leverage AI and automation. Additionally, Ramaphosa revealed plans to invest R20 billion annually over the next five years to support Black-owned businesses, with a focus on providing equitable opportunities for women, youth, and individuals with disabilities in government contracts. A new digital public infrastructure initiative will make government services more accessible, with a relaunched government portal expected to provide citizens with around-the-clock access.

Ramaphosa emphasised the government's commitment to mother tongue-based bilingual education, aimed at improving literacy and numeracy. The implementation of the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment Act was also highlighted, with Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube tasked with establishing national policies to support this. In addressing the funding challenges in higher education, the president confirmed the launch of phase one of the comprehensive student funding model, aimed at supporting 10 000 students. Furthermore, a new innovation fund will offer venture capital to tech start-ups emerging from South Africa's higher education institutions.

In a notable achievement, Ramaphosa celebrated 300 days without loadshedding, though he acknowledged that the country's energy supply remains under pressure. The president briefly touched on the importance of reforms within the energy sector, revealing that a competitive energy market will open up this year, allowing multiple electricity generation entities to compete. However, Ramaphosa was vague on the specifics of how this would be implemented. The expansion of the energy grid is still a priority, with over 14 000km of transmission lines needed, requiring substantial investment.