Cape Town – Political parties that make up the Government of National Unity (GNU) have come out in support of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) and predictable those in opposition were not impressed.
“As the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), I am extremely proud to say that our policies were front and center in the President’s State of the Nation Address,” said John Steenhuisen, whose other hat is the Minister of Agriculture.
“At national, provincial, and local levels, DA-led initiatives were highlighted and acknowledged as key drivers of progress and reform.”
Steenhuisen said this recognition affirms the vital role that the DA has played in shaping government policy across the spectrum of governance.
“From national government to municipal level, our ministers and representatives have been at the forefront of the reforms necessary for economic growth, job creation, and service delivery.
“I am particularly proud that the work of our DA ministers was highlighted in the President’s speech.
“Across various portfolios, our ministers have been instrumental in pushing reforms that will pave the way for a more prosperous, inclusive, and competitive South Africa.”
Several key DA policies were incorporated into the speech, which is a testament to the impact our party has had on policy development:
- Expediting private sector involvement in energy production and transmission to reduce Eskom’s monopoly and address the energy crisis.
- Prioritising infrastructure investment through public-private partnerships is a critical step toward building a more resilient economy.
- Digital transformation to keep South Africa competitive in the global economy by reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies and opportunities for corruption.
- -Visa reforms aimed at attracting skilled workers and entrepreneurs to boost growth.
- Agricultural reforms that focus on expanding the agricultural sector and ensuring its sustainability.
Early childhood education to ensure that every child receives the best possible start in life.
The GOOD Party said President Ramaphosa walked a coalition tightrope, balancing the “urgent need to address abnormal rates of poverty and inequality with the needs of the business sector for a stable environment conducive to economic growth”.
GOOD Secretary-General Brett Herron added: “The initiative he announced to send a South African delegation to engage world leaders on what South Africa stands for and has to offer – and dispel the false narrative that because we don’t always agree with the West we are a rogue state – is a very positive and proactive step.
“His steadfast references to the values of compassion, empathy, and humanity were an excellent start.
“At home, his commitment to use the Social Release of Distress Grant as the basis for a more sustainable social relief mechanism was very important.
“This commitment must translate into the implementation of a Basic Income Grant of at least R999 a month in the next financial year.”
President Ramaphosa promised that the coming year would witness a wave of reform to unleash more rapid and inclusive growth.
“But aiming for 3% annual growth of the economy is not enough to meaningfully dent the unemployment and poverty rates,” Herron said.
“South Africa needs to grow at a minimum of 5% a year, for a number of consecutive years, if it is to grow itself out of the deep hole it’s in.
“He signaled that the pending reform would include privatizing elements in the electricity, freight, rail and port sectors.
“There was much in the President’s speech that was good, but the proof of the pudding will be in the implementation and delivery.”
Songezo Zibi MP for RISE Mzansi and the party’s national leader said it was “probably Ramaphosa’s strongest SONA, but the proof will be in the Budget and implementation – we will hold him accountable”.
Zibi lauded the stance taken by President Ramaphosa regarding the ongoing row with the US over false reports that South Africa was ignoring property rights and grabbing land.
“President Ramaphosa struck a strong note in his reflection on the misinformation campaign launched on South Africa by agent provocateurs who are hellbent on sowing division across race and class,” noted Zibi.
“This is important not just important in the local context and for nation-building, but it also sets the tone for the country’s G20 presidency.
“As South Africa, we must stay true to and elevate our Constitutional and human rights values.
“He asserted South Africa’s sovereignty and national pride.”
Zibi said RISE Mzansi “welcomes the inclusion of some of our proposals” around independent train operators and prioritising water infrastructure at scale.
But President Ramaphosa’s speech was not without criticism, with ActionSA dismissing it as nothing more than a “rehash of empty promises – white papers, new funding models and more plans about plans. South Africans deserve better than these recycled promises and empty rhetoric”.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Julius Malema, said the speech exposed the failure of President Ramaphosa’s leadership.
“He has no plan and no accountability. Instead, he recycles past promises and delivers empty rhetoric while the material conditions of our people continue to deteriorate,” Malema said.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has described President Ramaphosa’s first SONA under the GNU as a “disaster”.
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) expressed “profound disappointment” at President Ramaphosa’s SONA Address, which it said, “yet again, served as a mere façade of hope drenched in empty rhetoric”.
The ATM added: “This address was nothing more than a rehearsed performance that failed to confront the reality faced by South Africans.
“Instead of substantive solutions, we witnessed a parade of unfulfilled promises that leave us questioning the sincerity and capability of this administration to deliver any semblance of prosperity or security for its citizens.”
FULL SONA SPEECH BY PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA
