As South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) enters its third year, its central challenge has fundamentally shifted, with the initial phase of articulating new policies over and the focus now resting entirely on executing existing promises.
According to the latest South Africa Citizens Watch (SACW) Tracker released by civil society organisation SIVIO Institute, the ultimate success of this coalition government will not be judged by its policy ambitions but by whether ongoing institutional and legislative reforms translate into tangible, everyday improvements for South Africans.
Two years after the GNU’s formation in June 2024, the SACW Tracker's second assessment evaluates the government’s performance from July 2024 to July 2026. The report tracks 120 policy commitments extracted from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Opening of Parliament Address in July 2024, alongside the 2024–2029 Medium-Term Development Plan.
The findings reveal a notable pivot from policy formulation to active implementation.
According to the report, the GNU achieved an overall performance score of 34% for the 2025/2026 reporting period. While this indicates that the vast majority of the work remains unfinished, it marks a substantial increase from the modest 9% recorded in the first anniversary report in September 2025.
The report highlighted that 64 promises are in progress, 52 promises have not commenced, 4 promises are fully implemented and no promises were broken.
Crucially, the fact that no promises were classified as broken indicates that the coalition government has maintained its intended policy trajectory, even if the pace of execution remains uneven across sectors.
The Tracker monitors progress across five distinct sectors, revealing varying levels of institutional capacity and political momentum.
The Economic cluster recorded the highest score of 41%, driven by tangible steps in infrastructure and institutional updates, with the report noting progress on rail corridor restoration and strategic port investments; the introduction of visa reforms and the implementation of the Electronic Travel Authorisation system; and the launch of South Africa’s first Infrastructure and Development Finance Bond, which successfully raised R11.8-billion.
The report highlighted a 38% score for Governance, with improvements concentrated in building State capacity, digital transformation, local government reform, and tightening border security.
In the realm of International Relations and Foreign Affairs, the report noted South Africa's continued pursuit of its International Court of Justice case against Israel's government.
Anti-corruption efforts gained momentum with a 34% score, through concrete institutional anchoring.
Key drivers included the permanent establishment of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, widespread asset recovery operations led by the Special Investigating Unit, and targeted enforcement actions against organised crime and illicit economic activities.
Climate Change recorded 33% progress, with the signing of the Climate Change Act 22 of 2024 representing the most significant development, alongside regulatory advances on carbon budgets and investments in the Just Energy Transition.
Despite registering the lowest overall score of 27%, the Social Services sector achieved major breakthroughs in specific subsectors, with the strongest gains in water and sanitation of 70% and education with 45%, reflecting the establishment of the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency, completion of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project tunnel rehabilitation, the signing of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, and the registration of more than 10 000 Early Childhood Development centres.
The report pointed out that despite the upward trajectory, nearly half of the GNU's promises (44%) have yet to see measurable action.
Commitments regarding housing and development, public sector productivity, debt stabilisation, renewable-energy investment, and social cohesion have largely stalled.
The report noted the four promises classified as implemented share common characteristics:
- clear institutional ownership,
- dedicated budget allocations,
- supporting legislative or policy frameworks, and
- measurable outputs.
Conversely, the report cautioned that passing laws and allocating funds are insufficient on their own. Many reforms remain stuck in the "in progress" phase, proving that the long-term impact of these initiatives depends entirely on sustained political will, adequate resourcing, and effective oversight.
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