Doubting SAs speak: Can the ANC deliver on its SONA objectives?

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President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his (un)anticipated State of the Nation Address (SONA) on the evening of 11 February 2021 in Cape Town. Expectations were that he would discuss the Covid-19 vaccine situation as well as a possible plan to help jumpstart the economy. Other topics would include load shedding, corruption, and land redistribution.

Several community members were less than optimistic about what the country’s leader would say.

“Cadre BS instead. Mandela, waffle waffle, ANC struggle, waffle waffle, Apartheid, van Riebeeck, waffle, corruption will be dealt with, waffle. Not worth watching,” says Gupta’s pet.

Colnef shares this sentiment. “If you are expecting anything from CR this evening, the joke is on you.”

Read also: Corruption: Advisory council won’t cut it – Paul Hoffman

During his speech to parliament, Ramaphosa laid out the government’s main objectives for 2021. These included accelerating economic recovery, creating jobs, fighting corruption and strengthening the state. He also explained that land reform would be accelerated.

“Over the past year, South Africa has experienced a sharp decline in growth and a significant increase in unemployment. Poverty is on the rise. Inequality is deepening. In the third quarter of 2020, our economy was 6% smaller than it was in the last quarter of 2019. Our unemployment rate now stands at a staggering 30.8%. As a result of the relief measures that we implemented and the phased reopening of the economy, we expect to see a strong recovery in employment by the end of 2021.”

“The largest number of jobs will be created by the private sector in a number of industries as the economy recovers. We continue to work in a social compact with the private sector to create a more conducive environment for them to be able to create jobs. The Presidential Employment Stimulus is one of the most significant expansions of public and social employment in South Africa’s history. By the end of January 2021, over 430,000 opportunities have already been supported through the stimulus. A further 180,000 opportunities are currently in the recruitment process.”

Addressing the subject of corruption, Ramaphosa said that we have made progress in turning around law enforcement bodies and that “critical leadership positions have been filled with capable, experienced and trustworthy professionals”.

“When reports started to surface last year about possible fraud and corruption in the procurement of Covid-related goods and services, we acted decisively to put a stop to these practices, to investigate all allegations and to act against those responsible.”

“As it was reported last week, the SIU has finalised investigations into 164 contracts with a total value of R3.5 billion. In a significant advance for transparency and accountability, the Political Party Funding Act will come into operation on the 1st of April this year. This will regulate public and private funding of political parties. Among other things, it requires the disclosure of donations to parties and establishes two funds that will enable represented political parties to undertake their programmes.”

Reactions varied, but many community members feel the address was a case of ‘all talk and no action’.

“Ramaphosa cannot lead us out of this mess because more than two years into his presidency, we are yet to see him show any leadership capabilities whatsoever. He is too much of a coward or too compromised to be a leader and the same goes for any presidential candidate that may emerge from the ANC ranks,” says Spyti K.

LJ_Silver disagrees. “Ramaphosa is not the problem. Though he is disappointingly weak, we shouldn’t get distracted by one man’s failings. The focus has to be on the cabal of criminals and incompetents that he leads, and how we remove them or minimise the damage they’re doing to our country. Replacing Ramaphosa would have no effect, at best, and could be devastating to the country, at worst. Replacement of one inept leader is nothing more than a red herring, and plays straight into the hands of Zuma, Magashule et al.”

SONA Facebook Comment

SONA Facebook Comment

“I don’t know if you have noticed, Cyril, your policies are chasing the 30, 40-year-old skilled South Africans offshore in droves. I personally know six people. Apart from the skills loss there goes your income tax base. How are you going to pay all those grants now? And BTW, those older ones are shipping their money off to Mauritius so it retains some value because they have policies that encourage you to go there, not run away before some cadre expropriates your property Zimbabwe-style. Ship of fools!” writes Chris. 

Fred Perry comments, “I always say that if you vote for buffoons then you will get peanuts!”

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Read also: Govt. sheds light on plans for independent power producers and renewables

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