There’s been mixed reactions to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address delivered in Cape Town on Thursday.
While political parties that are part of the so-called Government of National Unity hailed the speech as laying the foundation for future economic growth and possible job creation, the opposition and ordinary South Africans think otherwise.
The Democratic Alliance which along with the ANC are the main players in the GNU welcomed the speech particularly that it’s own policies have been prominently included.
“Several key DA policies were incorporated into President Ramaphosa’s speech, which is a testament to the impact the 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, a critical step towards 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,” said DA Leader John Steenhuisen who also serves as Minister of Agriculture in the GNU listing some of the issues he said his party had sponsored.
The flamboyant arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie who leads the Patriotic Alliance welcomed the speech although he expressed apprehension with the stand-off between South Africa and the USA, particularly President Donald Trump whom he said Pretoria could not afford to annoy.
“I must now try to be popular here, they can call me an ass-licker of America, I will be an ass-licker to save people’s lives, to save people’s jobs. Van ek baisa nie,” said McKenzie also cautioning against closer ties with the global south as opposed to the West in particular which he said “gives us billions and billions”.
EFF leader Julius Malema rejected the speech as all talk and no commitment even likening it to those of previous years which he said contained similar promises with no timelines or concrete delivery plans.
“It’s all talk, monies being thrown around but no accountability for previous promises. We had these speeches in the past, there was Tintswalo, Thuma Mina and the others but no real plan, none whatsoever, just waffling,” said Malema.
The EFF believes the ANC has become beholden to the DA at the expense of South Africans.
“Since the formation of the GNU, this unholy alliance between the African National Congress (ANC) and the racist Democratic Alliance (DA) has delivered nothing but chaos, regression, and suffering for the people of South Africa, particularly workers and the poor. The GNU was supposedly established to stabilise the economy, promote economic growth, reduce poverty, and build a capable and ethical state—yet, in every measurable aspect, it has failed dismally,” the party said in a statement.
Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto Wesizwe Party also rejected the speech citing in particular Ramaphosa’s omission of land expropriation when he just signed it into law.
Financial services company Debt Rescue said while the speech makes long term commitments for economic growth, it offered nothing for South Africans it said were currently in distress as a result of a rising cost of living.
“ Families are stretching every rand, choosing between paying for food, electricity or transport. Inflation continues to eat away at disposable income and while long term strategies for economic growth are necessary, consumers needed to hear real immediate solutions to their daily financial hardships. Instead this speech lack concrete measures to provide direct relief to those who are already struggling to survive. The cost of living crisis is deepening and without urgent intervention more households will slip further into financial distress. Skyrocketing utility tariffs, ongoing fuel hikes and rising food costs mean that South Africans are left with less and less at the end of each month. For many debt has become a survival tool not a choice. Although job
Food costs mean that South Africans are left with less and less at the end of each month,” said Anneline van der Poel, COO at Debt Rescue.
van der Poel said unless urgent measures are taken by the government more households will slip further into financial ruin.
“For many debt has become a survival tool not a choice. Although job creation and economic reforms are critical for future stability struggling consumers need immediate relief today. Without short term solutions families will continue to fall into financial ruin trapped in cycle of borrowing just to make ends meet. South Africans deserve more than just long term promises they need urgent action now to make prevent further financial devastation
creation and economic reforms are critical for future stability struggling consumers need immediate relief today. Without short term solutions families will continue to fall into financial ruin trapped in cycle of borrowing just to make ends meet. South Africans deserve more than just long term promises they need urgent action now to make prevent further financial devastation,” said van der Poel.
