Everything you need to know about SONA 2026

Parliament has allocated R7 million for this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), another increase in the cost of what has become the country’s biggest annual political event.

The figure, disclosed in Parliament, is higher than the R6 million allocated in 2025, R6.5 million in 2024, and R5 million in 2023.

What is SONA?

The SONA is the annual speech in which the President reports to Parliament on the country’s overall condition and outlines the government’s plans for the year.

Parliament says the address officially opens the legislative year and is an opportunity for the President to speak on political, economic, and social issues within the domestic and global contexts. 

It also said the speech is meant to follow up on previous promises and commitments.

When and where? 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the State of the Nation address live at Parliament in Cape Town on Thursday at 7pm. 

Parliament said the evening timeslot has been used since 2010 to ensure more South Africans can watch the speech live.

Because of the 2022 parliamentary fire, the address has been held at Cape Town’s City Hall, which Parliament says has been temporarily designated as the parliamentary precinct under the relevant law.

How is the joint sitting called?

The joint sitting of Parliament is convened under constitutional and parliamentary rules. Parliament said the President can call an extraordinary sitting when necessary, and that the Constitution allows the President to summon the National Assembly (NA), the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), or Parliament for special business.

It added that parliamentary rules allow a joint sitting, specifically when the President must deliver an annual or a special address.

How is the speech put together?

Parliament described the SONA as the result of a long and political drafting process that involves advisers, researchers, coalition partners, labour, business, civil society, speechwriters, and senior officials across government.

It said the process starts with direction from the Presidency and is guided by the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2024–2029, which sets the priorities for the current administration.

The MTDP focuses on inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty and the cost of living, and building a capable and ethical state, and is meant to align planning, budgeting and implementation across government.

Parliament said the speech is also shaped by the ruling party’s priorities, economic performance and ongoing crises.

Who is invited to attend?

Parliament said the guest list includes elected officials from national, provincial, and local government, including ministers, deputy ministers, premiers, and MECs, as well as leaders from the South African Local Government Association.

It also said representatives from the House of Traditional Leaders, civil society, and members of the public sit in the gallery, and that former presidents, deputy presidents, and senior members of the judiciary are also invited.

What happens during the ceremony?

The official programme usually begins with three processions, including provincial speakers, premiers, and the judiciary, followed by the arrival of the presidential cavalcade.

Parliament said aides-de-camp accompany the President for ceremonial duties and are withdrawn once the formalities are complete. During SONA, they travel with the President from his residence to Parliament.

A key feature of the ceremony is the Imbongi, or praise singer, who provides a cultural welcome by narrating the President’s personal history and family lineage through song, dance, and narration. Parliament said this begins as the presidential procession enters the chamber.

Proceedings begin with the Presiding Officers bowing to the left and right while standing, followed by a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.

Once the joint sitting is formally called, the Presiding Officer reads the notice and asks the President to deliver the address. Because the sitting is called specifically for the SONA, Parliament said no other business can be conducted that day.

How can the general public watch?

The address will be broadcast live on SABC Radio, SABC TV, other news channels and Parliament TV (DStv Channel 408), and will also be streamed on Parliament’s YouTube channel.

What happens after the address?

After the address, Parliament said the SONA is only the start of a year-long cycle of accountability. It said the first stage is a multi-day debate on 17 and 18 February, during which MPs question the President’s priorities and test whether the promises match the budget and the government’s capacity to deliver.

Parliament said the President will respond to the debate on February 18.

After the debate, parliamentary committees take over oversight, aligning their work plans with the priorities announced in the speech and calling ministers and departments to account through reports, briefings, and site visits.

Parliament said this process turns the speech into measurable commitments rather than just political statements.

The budget process also plays a role, with MPs examining whether funding aligns with the priorities outlined in the SONA. Parliament said civil society groups, researchers, business, labour, and the media also monitor the speech, publishing scorecards and tracking whether promises become real outcomes.

It added that ordinary citizens can participate through public hearings, submissions, protests, and community forums.

Parliament said institutions such as the Auditor-General and Chapter 9 bodies provide independent assessments that feed into parliamentary oversight, helping determine whether government is implementing policies effectively, lawfully, and transparently.

SONA functions “less as a once-off speech and more as a governing contract that Parliament and the public are constitutionally empowered to monitor, interrogate and enforce throughout the year.”

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