Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Parliament Veronica Mente has delivered a scathing assessment of South Africa’s current state, claiming that the entire government apparatus has collapsed and that citizens have little to be proud of as the country faces mounting socio-economic challenges.
Mente’s remarks come ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) scheduled for Thursday, an annual event where the president outlines the government’s achievements, policy priorities, and plans for the coming year. The EFF MP said the address should not distract from the reality on the ground, where ordinary South Africans continue to struggle with high unemployment, poor service delivery, and rising crime.
“The state as it is today has collapsed,” Mente said during a parliamentary briefing. “We have a country where ordinary citizens cannot rely on the government for basic services, justice is delayed, and corruption continues to erode public confidence. There is nothing to be proud of.”
Mente highlighted several pressing issues, including ongoing electricity load-shedding, dysfunctional municipalities, and the mismanagement of public funds, which she says illustrate systemic failures across multiple levels of government. She argued that while the president may focus on achievements during the SONA, the lived experiences of citizens tell a very different story.
Political analysts note that opposition parties, particularly the EFF, often use the SONA period to highlight governance failures and push for accountability, framing the president’s speech as a test of government credibility. Mente’s comments are consistent with the party’s longstanding stance that corruption, elite capture, and poor policy implementation have undermined state institutions.
Mente also called on South Africans to remain vigilant and critical of government claims, urging citizens to demand transparency and tangible improvements in service delivery. She warned that failure to address systemic issues could lead to further erosion of trust in state institutions and democratic processes.
Observers say Mente’s statement signals that the EFF will use Thursday’s SONA as a platform to hold the president and the ruling party accountable, likely questioning whether proposed policies and promises align with the realities faced by communities across the country.
The tone set by Mente underscores the high-stakes political environment surrounding SONA, as opposition parties prepare to scrutinise government performance and challenge claims of progress, while millions of South Africans await solutions to the ongoing crises affecting their daily lives.