SONA: State of the Nation Address 2024
A Nation that Works for All

State of the Nation  2025

A Nation that Works for All

Economic Growth

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SONA Highlights

Empowering black-owned and small businesses

Establish R20 billion transformation fund

Supporting women, youth and disabled-owned businesses

Fast-track Public Procurement Act regulations

Building innovation economy

Create Innovation Fund for emerging start-ups from higher education institutions

Driving investment

Driving investment

We are working to attract both local and international investment in labour-intensive industries such as services, agriculture, mining, green manufacturing and tourism. We are creating a more favourable investment climate, streamlining regulations and providing targeted incentives..

  • Implement a second wave of economic reforms to achieve 3%+ growth.
  • Mobilise R100 billion infrastructure financing through innovative funding mechanisms.
  • Fast-track R38 billion in blended finance projects through Infrastructure Fund.
  • Establish SOE Reform Unit to strengthen governance and oversight.
  • Launch G20 initiatives for global economic partnerships.
  • Finalise and implement industry master plans.
  • Grow tourism through visa reforms, increased flight connectivity and marketing South - Africa as a tourism destination of choice.
The Black Industrial Programmes InvestSA Master plans African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA)

Supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs

Supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we are committed to helping them thrive, by cutting red tape and streamlining support for small enterprises, entrepreneurs and cooperatives, especially in townships and villages. This includes access to finance, mentorship and training programmes.

  • Streamline funding for small businesses and unlock venture capital.
  • Create transformation fund for black-owned businesses worth R20 billion a year.
  • Implement preferential procurement for women, youth and persons with disabilities.
  • Provide training to women entrepreneurs to enable them to compete for government tenders.
  • Launch the National Skills Fund Disabilities Programme: In its first phase, this transformative initiative will empower over 10,000 persons with disabilities through tailored training programmes, stipends and specialised tools.
  • Support informal economy through enabling regulations.
The Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) Technology Innovation 
Agency (TIA) Employee Share Ownership Programmes (ESOPs)

Building a competitive economy through innovation

Building a competitive economy through innovation

We are working to make our economy more competitive by reducing the cost of doing business, improving infrastructure and investing in skills development. Establish Innovation Fund for tech start-ups emerging from higher education institutions.

  • Establish Innovation Fund for tech start-ups emerging from higher education institutions.
  • Expand digital services and business process outsourcing.
  • Invest in skills development in industries of the future. The Jobs Boost fund has pioneered a new model that links funding for skills in demand to the successful placement and employment of young people.
  • Support high-growth sectors through targeted incentives.
  • Continue structural economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela, and initiate a second wave of reforms, including to strengthen local government, address spatial inequality and drive digital transformation..
  • Focus on creating competitive markets in electricity and port and rail operations.
  • Continue with visa reforms to attract skills and investment and grow tourism.
  • Implement the Freight Logistics Roadmap to attract private investment in ports and rail, while ensuring infrastructure remains state-owned. Transnet’s performance has stabilised and is steadily improving.
Operation Vulindlela Just Energy transition National Skills Development Strategy