Malema calls Ramaphosa’s SONA “energy without action” but backs army deployment

Julius Malema isn’t mincing words. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader has welcomed the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) being sent into gang-ridden areas, but slammed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) as nothing more than a display of “energy without action.”

Delivering his 10th SONA on Thursday in Cape Town, Ramaphosa laid out plans to tackle crime, illegal mining, and the long-standing water crisis, pledging trillions of rands for infrastructure and systemic improvements. But to Malema, all the numbers in the world don’t change what people experience on the ground.

Trillions spent, but still no water

“Why talk about trillions for water when billions spent on projects like Giyani didn’t bring water to our people?” Malema asked during a press briefing after SONA. “Promises don’t quench thirst or feed the hungry.”

The president announced the formation of a National Water Crisis Committee, which he will chair, aimed at consolidating existing municipal water efforts, deploying experts, and using constitutional powers to enforce action.

Malema dismissed this initiative as bureaucratic layering rather than tangible problem-solving. “Task team after task team is a way to shift responsibility,” he said. “It confirms that the GNU lacks the capacity to execute its own responsibilities. Once again, we are listening to a man using a government platform during an election year to campaign for his party.”

Social media reactions reflect Malema’s frustration, with thousands of South Africans sharing images of empty taps and tweeting about the continued lack of basic services, particularly in townships such as Emmarentia, Naturena, and Melville. Many echoed the sentiment that grand promises in Parliament rarely translate to immediate relief.

Youth unemployment and empty promises

Malema also turned attention to the human cost behind the statistics. With youth unemployment hovering around 40%, he said, “He can’t be proud that he’s giving some money now. We saw this during COVID: temporary handouts, no sustainable jobs, no infrastructure. Where are these projects? Our people are waiting.”

To the EFF, the president’s SONA was less about solving problems and more about optics. The rhetoric, they say, does little to address the daily realities of poverty, hunger, and unemployment facing millions of South Africans.

Support for SANDF deployment

Despite his criticisms, Malema offered a rare nod to Ramaphosa’s crime strategy. The SANDF will assist the police in areas plagued by gang violence and illegal mining, particularly in the Western Cape and parts of Gauteng.

“We welcome the deployment,” he said. “Our people have been living under fear and lawlessness. The army’s presence is necessary to restore order, even if it’s a temporary measure.”

Malema’s comments reflect a nuanced stance: while he believes government initiatives too often fail to translate into real change, he recognises the immediate need for decisive intervention in tackling crime.

The election-year lens

With local government elections looming, the 2026 SONA is already being read through a political lens. Malema’s critique that Ramaphosa is “campaigning from the podium” resonates with voters weary of promises that never materialise.

For now, South Africans are left with a complex picture: a government pledging trillions in investment, task teams, and committees, while youth unemployment, water shortages, and gang violence continue to dominate headlines.

Whether this show of “energy” will evolve into meaningful action remains the question and one that will define public opinion in the months leading to the polls.