SONA 2026: If the President Wants a ‘Capable State,’ He Needs a Workforce That Can Build It
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HyperionDev CEO Riaz Moola has acknowledged the progress highlighted in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2026 State of the Nation Address on Thursday night, specifically regarding the expansion of digital infrastructure and the stabilisation of the national economy.
However, while the President celebrated “turning a corner,” Moola emphasised that South Africa still faces a critical “outcomes gap” that must be bridged to ensure this rising tide lifts all citizens.
Prior to the speech, Moola challenged the President to pivot from reporting on “digital access” to delivering “digital outcomes”. While the President touted the connection of 42,000 government buildings through the SA Connect Project, Moola warns that infrastructure alone is insufficient.
- From ‘Pipes’ to ‘Power’: Moola notes that the government spent 2025 building the “pipes” of the digital economy. In 2026, the focus must shift to who is qualified to build, secure, and innovate on those platforms.
- Tool-Makers vs. Tool-Users: Moola reiterated that South Africa does not have an “ambition problem” but an “outcomes problem,” stating, “We are still graduating ‘tool-users’ when the economy is starving for ‘tool-makers'”.
President Ramaphosa highlighted that over 1.6 million earning opportunities have been secured through the PYEI. While welcoming this scale, Moola argues that 2026 must be the year of “high-value tech careers” rather than “mass placements”.
- The Skills Compact: HyperionDev calls for a “Skills Compact” between agile private training providers and public infrastructure to move beyond basic digital literacy in schools toward specialised AI and cloud architecture training.
- Audit for Outcomes: Moola urges a shift in government funding models, such as the Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund, to prioritise “finishing schools” that guarantee job placement rather than just course completion.
As the President committed to a “capable state” that works for the people, Moola emphasised that this state must be built by a local workforce.
- Local Talent: Moola insists that the digital platforms being rolled out must be serviced by local talent to reduce reliance on international tech conglomerates.
- The 2026 Challenge: “If the President wants a ‘capable state,’ he needs a workforce that can build it,” says Moola. “In 2026, let’s give them the specific, industry-aligned tools to lead Africa’s digital decade”.
HyperionDev remains committed to partnering with the government and industry to ensure that the progress made in stabilising energy and infrastructure translates into high-paying, sustainable careers for South Africa’s youth. The real measure of SONA 2026 will not be the number of buildings connected, but the number of South Africans qualified to lead the global digital economy.
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