Ramaphosa’s accountability crisis: Unfulfilled SONA promises and stalled anti-corruption reforms

President Cyril Ramaphosa is under growing pressure from civil society over what campaigners describe as a failure to deliver on promises to set up a permanent anti-corruption body. More than nine months after receiving the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC) report, activists say the government has not published a clear, time-bound plan to establish the Office of Advisory Integrity (OPI), which Ramaphosa pledged to finalise during his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Coalition demands a formal response

A coalition of more than 20 civil society organisations, led by the Civil Society Working Group on State Capture (CSWG), has renewed calls for a substantive government reply to the NACAC report within 90 days. The coalition was established in November 2018 and includes the Helen Suzman Foundation, Freedom Under Law, Corruption Watch, Section27 and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, among others.

What NACAC recommended and what was promised

NACAC was tasked with guiding the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS), strengthening integrity architecture and shaping the state response to the findings of the Zondo Commission. The NACAC report was submitted in August 2025. During his SONA earlier this year, Ramaphosa committed to finalising the state’s approach to a permanent, overarching anti-corruption authority.

Civil society: progress but biggest obstacle remains

Corruption Watch spokesperson Janine Erasmus acknowledged some legislative and policy changes since Ramaphosa took office but criticised the president for what she called reluctance to apply reforms to his own party and government.

“There are other positives, and they must not be taken lightly. But I believe he will be remembered for his unwillingness to apply those mechanisms to his own party, his own government, and, ultimately, himself,”

Erasmus said.

Parliamentary oversight and further action

Open Secrets campaigner Letlhogonolo Letshele said the coalition plans to write to Parliament to request that Ramaphosa be questioned about the process.

“The President is accountable to Parliament. There is a portfolio committee that oversees the Presidency,”

she said.

Broader list of promises under scrutiny

The coalition and analysts pointed to a range of SONA commitments that they say have not been fully realised. These include the operationalisation of the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency amid ongoing community water shortages; faster implementation of the Zondo Commission recommendations; professionalised, ring-fenced utilities; and measures promised to drive inclusive economic growth and reduce poverty.

Analysts criticise delivery and legacy

Political analyst Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast said Ramaphosa had overpromised and under-delivered, calling this a contradiction given his anti-corruption platform.

“He overpromised and did not honour those commitments. He came to power on a ticket of good governance, but now, he himself is facing impeachment, which is a contradiction,”

Breakfast said.

Another analyst, Zakhele Ndlovu, said the president repeatedly committed to more than he could implement and framed recent SONA speeches as largely aspirational.

“The SONA was a PR exercise rather than a realistic policy document. As usual, he bragged about imagined achievements and made empty promises,”

Ndlovu said.

What activists want next

The CSWG has been explicit: publish a clear, substantive and time-bound government response to the NACAC report. Until such a response is made public, the coalition says it will continue to press for accountability and parliamentary scrutiny.