(Freedom Front Plus’s reply to SONA 2026)
The time has come for President Cyril Ramaphosa to look Afrikaners in the eye and clearly articulate where he stands with them.
For more than 30 years, Afrikaners have patiently extended a helping hand motivated by a genuine desire to collaborate and make South Africa a successful home for all its people.
This gesture of reconciliation has been dismissed time and again through violated agreements and dishonesty. The time has come for recognising and accommodating legitimate demands.
It was evident in the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) that he has no real grasp of the country’s problems and wants to solve all of them by establishing more task teams or making more promises when, in fact, it is already too late.
The water crisis, damaging foreign policy and the trampling of Afrikaners – who are not even allowed to decide which language their children may use at school – are just a few examples.
For over 30 years, the ANC has driven the country to the edge of ruin with damaging policy such as Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Affirmative Action (AA). The President has to realise that it cannot go on like this.
(Here follows Dr Mulder’s full speech.)
Honourable President
At your inauguration after the 2019 election, you said the following, “Yes, South Africa, Thuma Mina” (send me). “I pledge here today that I will serve you, I will work with you, side by side, to build the South Africa that we all want and deserve.”
I respect you for that and I know that you are still trying.
Today, I am going to speak in my home language, Afrikaans, but out of respect for you, Mr President, I have provided you with a translated copy of my speech.
After your speech in 2019, South Africa had great expectations. People believed it marked a new beginning that would steer South Africa in a positive direction for all. Everyone was ready to join you in saying “Thuma Mina – Send us”.
But now, seven years later, it is clear that things did not work out that way at all. On Thursday evening, it was exhausting just to listen to the long list of problems you mentioned – never mind all the new task teams.
None of these problems are coincidental. No, these problems arose under ANC rule over the past 30 years. Zeal and task teams do not change that.
We have reached a point where the country is grinding to a halt and stagnating (getting stuck in the mud). Much of it can be traced back directly to ideologically driven policy directions to which you and the ANC continue to cling – policies such as cadre deployment, Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Affirmative Action (AA) that simply do not work.
I want to briefly address three matters. Firstly, water supply.
Having access to clean water is a basic human right. The crisis is so severe that you, as President, have to personally take control of it.
Water shortages did not appear overnight. 30 years of ANC maladministration coupled with no effort to maintain infrastructure lies at the root of the problem.
Most parts of the country have more than enough water – but the pipes are leaking and the pumps do not work, as cadre-deployed officials do not know how to get the job done. It is estimated that up to 50% of Johannesburg’s water is lost due to leaking pipes.
Secondly, foreign policy.
The foreign policy you set out in numerous SONAs, both before and after the establishment of the Government of National Unity (GNU), remains unchanged. My problem with this is that it is still ANC policy, and not the policy of the GNU.
During your speech, you were stiff-necked and defiant when addressing foreign affairs. “We stand on our sovereignty and we will not be bullied.” And that is well and good – but stubbornness and blindness to what is currently happening in the world is no excuse. Our foreign policy is currently causing South Africa enormous economic damage.
You say, “South Africa remains a clear and consistent voice for international law, for justice and for human rights.” That is simply not true. When Russia invaded Ukraine, South Africa conveniently forgot all about international law. When Iran shoots and kills thousands of its own citizens and sentences women like Zahra Tabari and Masha Amini to death, human rights apparently do not matter. Neither DIRCO nor the GNU uttered a single word to condemn these heinous acts.
Last Friday the Minister of Women – Sindisiwe Chikunga – delivered a speech at the Iranian Embassy to commemorate their revolution, but said absolutely nothing about these human rights violations. Maintaining these positions on foreign affairs is not in the national interest and the Freedom Front Plus strongly condemns it.
Lastly, I want to speak to you about the Afrikaner and the unresolved issues between us. Afrikaners and other minorities appreciate the efforts you are making to solve South Africa’s problems. We do notice it.
However, on your own, you will not succeed. Neither will your Cabinet or all the task teams succeed. And, I am afraid, the public service will not succeed either. Achieving success will require a massive effort from everyone in South Africa – political leaders, civil society, the entire business sector, all the foreign assistance we can possibly get, as well as a commitment from every South African. Only then do we stand a chance.
Here is my hand. Today, the Afrikaner and all other minorities are extending a helping hand to you. We want to help, but it is not unconditional. We ask for equal treatment and recognition.
You saying “we will not be free as long as the people of Palestine and Western Sahara are not free” is of no consequence while, in your own country, an Afrikaner community does not even have the right to determine the language of instruction in their school. We are also not allowed to decide and determine shareholding in our own businesses and companies. That is not freedom.
Today, I have once again provided you with a copy of the Accord on Afrikaner Self-Determination (“Akkoord oor Afrikaner Selfbeskikking”). Afrikaner freedom and self-determination are unresolved issues that will not go away. So, let us deal with it.
In the past, the Freedom Front Plus has honoured our agreements – look at our history. But the ANC has not. That leads to Afrikaner anger and reaction.
Two examples: The Freedom Front Plus honoured our part of the agreement regarding the Northern Cape after the election. The ANC blatantly violated it. That makes me angry and is a serious breach of trust.
The agreements reached concerning the BELA Act and expropriation without compensation were also violated. That makes Afrikaners draw back their hands. But, let us look one another in the eye now and address these issues. We are willing.
Freedom Front Plus Public Safety: The FF Plus prioritizes public safety and community policing initiatives.
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At the end of the school year and a mother asked his son if the exam questions were difficult. And he answers her saying “They weren’t bad at all,” it was the answers that gave me all the trouble.