100 Promises Made in the 2026 SONA

Below is a list of all the promises outlined in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address on 12 February 2026. These commitments span various sectors, including security, infrastructure, economy, education, health, and governance, reflecting the government’s priorities for building a stronger South Africa.

1. The government will deploy the South African National Defence Force to support the police in fighting gang violence.
2. The government will develop a tactical plan for deploying security forces in the Western Cape and Gauteng to address gang violence and illegal mining.
3. The government will tackle gun crime by streamlining legislation and regulations on licensing, possessing, and trading in firearms and ammunition.
4. The government will recruit 5,500 additional police officers this year.
5. The government will establish a national illicit economy disruption programme involving key state agencies and stakeholders. The government will target high-risk sectors like tobacco, fuel, alcohol, and counterfeit products using data analytics and AI.
6. The government will ensure investigations from the Madlanga Commission are undertaken swiftly through a task team.
7. The government will re-vet senior management of the South African Police Service and metro police departments, including lifestyle audits.
8. The government will establish a new criminal justice reform initiative to crack down on organised crime, corruption, and illicit firearms trade.
9. The government will finalise its approach to establishing a permanent, independent anti-corruption body.
10. The government will introduce the Whistle-Blower Protection Bill to criminalise retaliation and provide support to whistle-blowers.
11. The government will restructure the procurement system to end corruption, using technology and finalising new Public Procurement Act regulations by mid-2026.
12. The government will attend to the water shortage problem and engage with communities through ministers. The government will build new dams and upgrade existing water infrastructure.
13. The government will commit R156 billion in public funding for water and sanitation infrastructure over the next three years.
14. The government will advance construction of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project and Ntabelanga Dam.
15. The government will establish a National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency.
16. The government will ensure senior officials in local government have required qualifications and are appointed independently.
17. The government will strengthen national government’s ability to intervene in failing municipalities.
18. The government will classify floods as a national disaster to prioritise funding for affected people.
19. The government will commit more than R1 trillion in public investment over three years for infrastructure.
20. The government will launch an infrastructure bond for funding.
21. The government will establish specialised courts for commercial matters to resolve disputes faster.
22. The government will establish a professional State Property Company this year to manage state assets.
23. The government will achieve 40% energy supply from renewable sources by 2030.
24. The government will establish a fully independent state-owned transmission entity.
25. The government will establish a task team to address Eskom restructuring issues, reporting in three months.
26. The government will commence the first round of independent transmission projects for private investment in grid expansion.
27. The government will address transformer overloading, illegal connections, and equipment failure to eradicate load reduction by next year.
28. The government will enable private rail operators to access the network.
29. The government will initiate major public-private partnerships in port terminals and rail corridors this year.
30. The government will conclude partnerships like Durban Pier 2 to improve ports.
31. The government will prepare for the introduction of high-speed rail, sending out a request for proposals.
32. The government will strengthen trade negotiations capacity and expand missions for economic diplomacy.
33. The government will revive the ferrochrome industry and protect jobs in steel, automotive, and other sectors.
34. The government will close loopholes in the tariff structure and develop measures to protect manufacturing.
35. The government will introduce a 150% tax deduction for investment in new energy vehicles from March.
36. The government will support local production of batteries.
37. The government will dedicate funds for geological mapping and exploration of critical minerals.
38. The government will expand local beneficiation of critical minerals.
39. The government will raise R2 trillion in new investments over the next five years.
40. The government will host the sixth South Africa Investment Conference on 31 March 2026.
41. The government will open new markets for agricultural exports.
42. The government will provide R7.8 billion in funding to black producers through the Blended Finance Scheme.
43. The government will deploy 10,000 new extension officers to support farmers.
44. The government will vaccinate the national herd of 14 million cattle against foot-and-mouth disease.
45. The government will facilitate acquisition of vaccines centrally.
46. The government will ensure all farmers have access to vaccines.
47. The government will classify foot-and-mouth disease as a national disaster.
48. The government will extend Electronic Travel Authorisation to all visa-requiring countries for 24-hour digital processing.
49. The government will provide R2.5 billion in funding to over 180,000 small and medium enterprises.
50. The government will extend R1 billion in guarantees for small businesses.
51. The government will amend National Credit Act regulations for easier, lower-cost credit access.
52. The government will review the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment framework to support transformation and growth.
53. The government will expand public employment programmes including the Community Works Programme, EPWP, and Presidential Employment Stimulus.
54. The government will increase employment equity targets for persons with disabilities to 7% by 2030 in public service.
55. The government will make Grade R compulsory.
56. The government will intensify efforts to fix basic education with focus on early learning, literacy, numeracy, and bilingual education.
57. The government will address the high dropout rate in schooling.
58. The government will increase skills development levy return to employers to 40%.
59. The government will transform the National Skills Fund to support unemployed youth.
60. The government will build more universities and TVET colleges with specialised focus.
61. The government will address student accommodation shortage through innovative financing.
62. The government will implement targeted interventions for pregnant women and low birth-weight children.
63. The government will call on provincial governments to regulate alcohol by limiting outlets, restricting hours, and ending large container sales.
64. The government will propose measures like minimum unit pricing, higher excise duties, and restrictions on alcohol advertising.
65. The government will continue the Social Relief of Distress Grant.
66. The government will expand affordable housing and revitalise commuter rail to remake cities.
67. The government will introduce a new housing model with subsidies for ownership and rental.
68. The government will proceed with Phase 4 of District Six construction with R500 million allocated.
69. The government will invest in health facilities, personnel, and systems for National Health Insurance preparation.
70. The government will undertake substantial investment in health infrastructure, prioritising academic hospitals.
71. The government will undertake a massive rollout of Lenacapavir for HIV prevention.
72. The government will mobilise society to ensure every young girl aged 9-15 receives the HPV vaccine to end cervical cancer.
73. The government will coordinate response to gender-based violence through the National Strategic Plan.
74. The government will scale up survivor-centred support including shelters, one-stop centres, mobile/rural outreach, and social workers in police stations.
75. The government will take additional steps to secure borders this year. The government will use drones and technology on borders.
76. The government will extend Electronic Travel Authorisation to all international airports and busiest land ports.
77. The government will enforce laws against employers hiring foreign nationals without required visas.
78. The government will hire an additional 10,000 labour inspectors this year.
79. The government will ensure no unlawful barring of foreign nationals from public facilities.
80. The government will make lifestyle audits mandatory for senior public servants.
81. The government will implement clear standards for appointments to state-owned enterprises.
82. The government will work towards a centralised model for managing SOE portfolio.
83. The government will finalise the National State Enterprises Bill.
84. The government will launch the Digital ID this year.
85. The government will digitise driver’s licenses, matric certificates, and services at the Master’s Office.
86. The government will make police statements online and SASSA grant eligibility remote.
87. The government will make services available on the MyMzansi platform.
88. The government will offer Smart ID and passport services at hundreds more bank branches this year.
89. The government will contribute to implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area.
90. The government will stand firm on sovereignty and promote national interests.
91. The government will forge strong partnerships with like-minded countries.
92. The government will work towards launching the International Panel on Inequality.
93. The government will continue supporting conflict prevention and peacekeeping efforts of UN, AU, and SADC.
94. The government will withdraw troops from the UN mission in the DRC to consolidate the defence force.
95. The government will guide a national compact and the next National Development Plan.
96. The government will make 2026 a year of transformative change.
97. The government will fight crime and corruption, and restore trust.
98. The government will create jobs for every South African.
99. The government will bring the marginalised into the economy.
100. The government will ensure the crime fight is felt everywhere.