There is so much to commend about last Thursday’s State of the Nation Address (Sona). Yet the path to economic recovery – and a return to a semblance of social normality – will be harder and will require much bolder actions than those envisaged in the president’s address.

Last year, the country had two Sonas: first in February, and then another one a few months later during which President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that 10% of the gross domestic product or R500bn would be spent to support households and firms which had been hit hard by the novel coronavirus pandemic lockdown...