Use Sona to advance transformation – ANC

THE ANC has urged the government to use this year’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) by President Zuma to “give expression to the 12 urgent tasks of the movement” in respect of economic transformation.

The Sona was used by the government to “report on the state of our country, progress in realising our vision of a national democratic society, and the key actions required to move us closer and faster to a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society”, ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said yesterday.

Radical economic transformation was needed, while ownership and control of the economy should favour all South Africans, especially the poor, the majority of whom were African and female, he said.

“Our main objective remains the liberation of blacks in general and Africans in particular. At the heart of radical socio-economic transformation is an effective state that is decisive in its pursuit of structural change,” he said.

The “12 urgent tasks” included returning the land to the people using constitutional means; investing in township and rural communities; and ensuring the building of post-apartheid cities in rural areas and vibrant businesses in the townships.

Also on the ANC task list was the imperative to “mercilessly deal with corruption”, fighting both the “tigers and the flies”, said Kodwa. – ANA