#FairnessFirst: #Sona2018 leaves SA's social media set hopeful of real change

26 Feb 2018

The recent State of the Nation Address, given just a day after coming to power by newly minted president Cyril Ramaphosa, left many SA netizens satisfied and optimistic about the future as he promised one where hard work would triumph over past inequalities.

#MarchforChange meme from Social Trends Ghana on Twitter.

Much of the SA population’s hope and positive sentiment following #Sona2018 is because it was an entirely different address to what we’ve become accustomed to over the past nine years:

Parliament will never be the same. The joke Msholozi shared with us were priceless indeed to be remembered. �� #SONA2018 #SONA18 #SONA pic.twitter.com/LQHmynP1PE
— Man's Not Barry Roux (@AdvBarryRoux) February 17, 2018

It started on time for once and instead of prolonged pauses and giggles, we nodded along and some tweeted they had goosebumps at the promises of better representation and equality regarding not just race but also gender, background and more, as well as the need to put in the work - #whitepriviledge begone!

19/02/18 | #SONA 2018 has left you feeling... • • Hopeful • Grumpy as ever • Ready to lend a hand • • • #Tipwars @baselinecoffee #Woodstock #CapeTown #SouthAfrica #TipwarThemePolitics

A post shared by Baseline Coffee TipWars (@baselinecoffee.tipwars) on Feb 19, 2018 at 8:18am PST

Memeburn recounted some of the highlights as follows: “Inequality, transformation and job creation took a large slice of the Sona cake.

In Ramaphosa’s own words:

We are building a country where a person’s prospects are determined by their own initiative and hard work, and not by the colour of their skin, place of birth, gender, language or income of their parents.

#SONA2018: Ramaphosa's roadmap

Dhanyal Davidson 19 Feb 2018

All the expected topics were covered but there were no interruptions from the gallery, apart from applause and cheering. The address was comprehensive and concise, ending precisely at 8:30pm, and trended on Twitter for the rest of the week.

In closing, an important reminder: @CyrilRamaphosa #SONA2018 pic.twitter.com/d3ukyrmfvH
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) February 16, 2018

DA leader Mmusi Maimane also touched on issues of diversity in the Sona debate, with the aim of having a more diverse caucus in 2019, especially with more female representatives within the party ahead of the 2019 national elections:

Maimane touches on diversity in the DA pic.twitter.com/vhRKoeDbrm
— SABC News Online (@SABCNewsOnline) February 18, 2018

Here’s to more diverse representation no matter who leads the country, as reflective of the ‘rainbow nation’ of Madiba’s time.

Leigh Andrews

About Leigh Andrews

Leigh Andrews AKA the #MilkshakeQueen, is former Editor-in-Chief: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com, with a passion for issues of diversity, inclusion and equality, and of course, gourmet food and drinks! She can be reached on Twitter at @Leigh_Andrews.