The president's speech is set to kick off at 19:00. In strict adherence to the National State of Disaster regulations, this year’s SONA will take the form of a hybrid joint sitting, with no more than 50 Members of Parliament, representatives from the Judiciary, and the Executive in the physical chamber. The rest of this category will connect virtually. 

South Africa has recorded 1 482 412 cases of COVID-19, and counting, while more than 47 000 people have succumbed to the respiratory disease. Ramapahosa’s Sona will further elaborate on the government's latest efforts to counter the further spread of the virus, including the vaccination rollout phase. 

The government is already facing sharp criticism for acquiring the AstraZeneca vaccine, as a study found it was ineffective. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has since said the drug can be used against the new COVID-19 variant.

Apart from on-going electricity blackouts in the country, job loss, PPE tender corruptions, and the skyrocketing unemployment rate the president is under pressure to navigate a mass vaccine rollout plan which comes after  South Africa suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine.

The scramble by South Africa for Covid-19 vaccines is intensifying pressure on the government to square its plans for immunizing the country with reality.

While many South African believe that the president’s SONA 2021 will be more talk and less action, others have hope that vaccine issues will be raised and dealt with accordingly in the name of restoring people's hope in fighting the pandemic and avoiding the possible Covid-19 third wave. 

The Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, is confident that the roll-out of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to health workers in South Africa can start by next week the plan suffers from a shortage of specifics and a surfeit of ambition, say some in the public health community, who have counseled the government to rethink its target and up its transparency.

 The COVID-19 pandemic also gave rise to grand looting, leading the SIU to probe R13 billion worth of PPE tenders.