This year the State of the Nation address is centred around the theme “Following up on our commitments: Making your future better.”

As a South African citizen, I must ask the question on everyone’s minds. Has the president kept the promises which he made at 2018’s SONA?

Last year, one of his main promises to South Africa was a commitment to up-skill and create more paid work experience for more than a million youth across South Africa over the next three years.

Our verdict: He has kept to his word thus far. We come to this conclusion based on the fact that the youth employment service was launched on the 27th of March 2018. This was made possible due to the partnership between the government, business and civil society and will ensure that over the next three years, youth between the ages of 18 and 35 will be provided opportunities for training and with job placements.

According to various sources, around 319 companies have registered to partner up towards this initiative.

The one main promise made at the 2018 SONA that has not been kept is the promise to upgrade and maintain schools’ infrastructure. To date, there are still more than 400 schools that have structural issues, and this number includes schools built out of the mud.

So, while this may be the cheapest SONA in five years, the promises made and those that were kept will be what decides who people will vote for in the upcoming 2019 elections.

MUMTAZ MOOSA SALEY