The Political Desk: Unpacking the President’s 2026 State of the Nation Address

Bongani Bingwa speaks to Marrianne Merten, associate editor at Daily Maverick, about the tough questions emerging from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2026 State of the Nation Address. In a sharply argued opinion piece, Merten questions whether the President’s strong rhetoric on crime and the deployment of the South African National Defence Force reflect genuine urgency and political will or whether government is falling into a familiar pattern of bold announcements without meaningful accountability. They unpack opposition criticism, public frustration, and whether the state’s response matches the scale of South Africa’s crime crisis. 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg-based talk radio station.   Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team brings you all you need to know to start your day  Thank you for listening. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 6 am to 9 am (SA Time) https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj  For more from the show and catch-up podcasts, visit Primedia+ here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T  Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc  Let’s keep the conversation going online:  702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702    702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702  702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/  702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702  702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.