The 2025 State of the Nation Address: A Futile Exercise in a Darkened Nation?

Introduction

On February 6, 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa stood before the nation to deliver the annual State of the Nation Address (SONA), an event meant to outline the government’s so-called achievements and plans for the future. However, for millions of South Africans, the address was not only irrelevant but a cruel joke, as they sat in darkness—literally—thanks to Eskom’s ongoing load reduction. While the President waxed lyrical about economic growth and infrastructure plans, entire communities remained disconnected from this vision, left to wonder whether SONA was truly for the people or merely for the political elite.

This article delves into the hypocrisy surrounding SONA, questioning its relevance in a country shackled by perpetual power cuts. More importantly, it exposes the devastating impact of load reduction on South Africa’s fragile Heritage, Arts, and Culture industry—a sector that, despite its significance, remains sidelined in national discourse.

Key Highlights of the 2025 SONA

Despite the power outages affecting millions of South Africans, the President covered several key topics during his address. Among the most notable were:

1. Economic Growth and Infrastructure Investments: Ramaphosa emphasized the government’s commitment to boosting economic growth and achieving a 3.5% GDP increase by 2027. He spoke of large-scale infrastructure projects, including the expansion of railway networks and highways to facilitate trade and economic activities.
2. Energy Crisis and Eskom’s Failures: The President acknowledged Eskom’s ongoing struggles and announced plans to accelerate the introduction of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to diversify South Africa’s energy sources. However, no immediate solution was offered for the millions suffering from relentless power cuts.
3. Job Creation Initiatives: The government promised to create 2 million new jobs over the next five years, focusing on youth employment and the revitalization of the manufacturing and agriculture sectors.
4. Crime and Corruption: A new anti-corruption task force was introduced, aiming to hold accountable those implicated in state capture and financial mismanagement.
5. Support for the Arts and Culture Industry: Although briefly mentioned, the sector was promised an increase in funding through the National Arts Council and the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme.
6. Land Reform and Housing: Ramaphosa reiterated the government’s commitment to land redistribution, promising to provide more South Africans with access to land for residential and agricultural use.
7. Education and Healthcare: Increased funding for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) was announced, along with improvements in the public healthcare system to address backlogs in hospitals and clinics.

While these announcements seemed promising, their effectiveness remains to be seen, particularly in light of South Africa’s ongoing infrastructure failures.

A Speech for the People—But Which People?

SONA has long been marketed as a platform for transparency, where the President reports on the state of the country and reassures citizens that progress is being made. Yet, this year’s address was met with widespread frustration. Not because the public doubted the importance of leadership communication, but because they were deprived of the ability to witness it firsthand. What is the point of a national address when half the nation cannot even access it?

Load reduction—an even more insidious cousin of load shedding—was in full force during the address. Unlike scheduled blackouts, which at least come with some degree of predictability, load reduction disproportionately affects already marginalized communities, leaving millions without electricity for five hours or more at a time.

Ironically, one of the central themes of this year’s SONA was economic revitalization, with President Ramaphosa promising that South Africa’s economy would be restored to growth levels above 3%. But how can an economy grow when businesses are forced to shut down daily due to power cuts? How can investors take South Africa seriously when its most basic infrastructure fails on a daily basis? How can artists, musicians, and cultural institutions survive in an environment where they are literally and figuratively kept in the dark?

The Brutal Impact of Load Reduction on the Heritage, Arts, and Culture Sector

While South Africa’s economy as a whole suffers under these conditions, no sector feels the effects of load reduction more acutely than the Heritage, Arts, and Culture industry. Often dismissed as non-essential, this sector is the backbone of South Africa’s identity and storytelling. It is where history is preserved, where voices are amplified, and where the soul of the nation resides. Yet, it is being choked by an unreliable power supply that threatens its very existence.

1. The Performing Arts: Silence on Stage

Theatre productions, live concerts, and festivals require lighting, sound, and multimedia setups—all of which depend on a steady electricity supply. The erratic and lengthy power cuts are making it impossible for these events to take place, forcing artists to cancel or reschedule performances at a financial loss. Venues that operate on tight budgets cannot afford generators or alternative power sources, leaving performers jobless and audiences deprived of entertainment.

2. Museums and Cultural Institutions: The Death of Heritage

Museums, galleries, and archives house centuries of history in fragile forms—paintings, manuscripts, artifacts, and sculptures that require controlled environments. Load reduction disrupts temperature regulation systems, causing irreversible damage to priceless items.

Imagine a nation that boasts about its rich history but allows its heritage to be destroyed because it cannot keep the lights on. That is South Africa today.

3. Digital Arts and Film: A Creative Crisis

In an era where digital content is king, filmmakers, video editors, and designers rely heavily on electricity. Without power, they cannot work. Data is lost. Productions are delayed. Artists miss deadlines. In a country where unemployment is already rampant, the impact of this cannot be overstated. South Africa has a growing film industry that competes on the global stage—yet how can it thrive when basic infrastructure fails?

4. Art Education and Development: Dreams Crushed Before They Begin

Music schools, dance academies, and art centers are experiencing severe disruptions, impacting thousands of students who depend on these institutions for training and career advancement. Educators are unable to conduct classes, and students are unable to practice or perform. The long-term impact? A generation of artists who never get the chance to realize their potential.

Is There a Way Forward? Or Are We Doomed to Darkness?

If the government truly values South Africa’s cultural sector, urgent interventions must be made. Here are some necessary steps:

1. Government Grants for Backup Power Solutions – The state must provide financial assistance to arts institutions, theaters, and heritage sites to acquire solar power and generators.
2. Infrastructure Overhauls, Not Just Promises – Eskom must be held accountable, and the government must ensure sustainable, long-term energy solutions rather than temporary band-aids.
3. Recognition of the Arts as an Essential Industry – South Africa’s creative sector contributes billions to the economy and deserves the same prioritization as other industries.
4. Community-Led Energy Solutions – Localized solar and wind energy projects should be supported to reduce reliance on Eskom’s failing grid.

A Nation Left in the Dark
The 2025 SONA was meant to be a moment of clarity, a roadmap for South Africa’s future. Instead, it became yet another reminder of the country’s deepening crisis. The question now is, will the government listen, or will the people have to find their own light in the darkness?