SONA To Kick Off Within Three Hours, Energy Crisis Top Of Agenda

President Cyril Ramaphosa will face the challenge of convincing South African public that his government has a viable plan to alleviate the crippling energy crisis when he delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) at 19:00SAST/17:00GMT.

• South Africa's head of state delivers the SONA every year before the joint Houses of Parliament to provide an update on the situation in the country, summarise the achievements of the government and chart the path forward.
• Ramaphosa could declare a national state of emergency in response to the energy crisis. The implementation of COVID-era rules would allow his administration to cut red tape and facilitate the procurement of new power generation capacity.
• An IOL journalist tweeted that "there's a special Cabinet sitting that is looking into the possibility of declaring the energy state of disaster today." Recall that the ruling ANC party backed such move at its recent strategy meeting.
• The Cabinet reshuffle, which had been expected to take place ahead of the SONA, did not materialise, with Ramaphosa accused of buying time even as his deputy David Mabuza agreed to quit and make room for the newly elected AND deputy leader.
• It is unclear whether the President will announce a Cabinet rejig tonight. Besides the rotation in the position of Deputy President, he needs to fill the vacancies in the Transport Department and Public Service & Administration Department.
• The speech will be broadcast by all major South African news channels, as well as Parliament TV.