GCIS Launches Nationwide Public Outreach Ahead of South Africa’s SONA 2026

The public will be encouraged to follow the address through television, radio, community media and digital platforms, as well as to engage online using the hashtag #SoNA2026.

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), in collaboration with key stakeholders, will roll out a series of nationwide public outreaches ahead of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2026, scheduled to be delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 12 February 2026.

The outreach programme will include community activations, media engagements and public dialogues aimed at encouraging citizens to actively engage with and participate in the country’s most important annual political address.

Taking SONA to the People

According to GCIS, outreach activities will take place in malls, taxi ranks, road intersections and schools, alongside community media engagements, public education sessions and civic awareness programmes. These initiatives are designed to broaden public participation and ensure that citizens across the country are informed, engaged and connected to the national dialogue.

The public will be encouraged to follow the address through television, radio, community media and digital platforms, as well as to engage online using the hashtag #SoNA2026.

Encouraging Citizen Voices

GCIS said the outreaches will also invite members of the public to share their views on what they would like the President to address during the State of the Nation Address and in the subsequent SONA debate and reply.

“The outreach programme will encourage the public to comment on what they expect government and the President to urgently address,” GCIS said in a statement, adding that public inputs will be collected to reflect citizen priorities and concerns.

About the State of the Nation Address

The State of the Nation Address is delivered at a Joint Sitting of Parliament, comprising the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). It marks the official opening of the parliamentary programme and outlines the government’s political and socio-economic priorities for the year ahead.

The address attracts significant national and international attention, as it sets the policy agenda and signals government direction across key sectors.

Through its 2026 outreach campaign, GCIS aims to deepen public participation, transparency and democratic engagement, ensuring that citizens are not just spectators—but active participants—in shaping the national conversation.