Zuma must bring hope

IN A few days’ time, President Jacob Zuma will deliver his state of the nation address (Sona). His last one in February was not particularly illuminating and followed a well-worn path.

Predictably, on the eve of the election with an outgoing government, it concentrated on past achievements and victories since the advent of democracy in 1994.

That speech told a very small part of the South African story.

It is to be hoped the one he presents on Tuesday will be more statesmanlike and forward-looking.

It has to be. His party won the elections with a reduced, but nevertheless, overwhelming 62% majority.

This speech will need to define how government under ANC rule intends to lead the nation.

Some five years ago, Zuma assured all that under his leadership the government would create five million jobs over a decade.

He is more than a couple of noughts shy on that promise and there is no hope he will come close to that target anytime soon.

The World Bank this week slashed its growth forecast for South Africa to 2% – and even that seems unlikely. Many economists are reportedly forecasting even slower growth.

South Africa remains a divided economy with one of the most unequal societies in the world.

The forecast 2% growth won’t come close to reducing unemployment and poverty or addressing our massive inequality.

What South Africa needs from Zuma in this particular address is an honest assessment of where we are and a realistic take on how we can dig ourselves out of the hole.

The prolonged strike in the platinum mining industry hasn’t helped.

Hopefully, by Tuesday there will at least be some good news on this front, with the strike appearing to have reached resolution. Right now, it is up to the unions. But the revenue losses already suffered will have to be addressed and Zuma has to talk about how we stem the economic downslide generally.

Part and parcel of this will be to address corruption, particularly in the public sector.

Corruption has a profound effect on the economy.

Watchdog organisation Corruption Watch recently pointed out that corrupt activity hindered development, depleted the public purse, distorted markets and hampered local and foreign direct investment.

Government spending will similarly have to be addressed and, hopefully, real belt-tightening exercises will be spoken about, and acted upon.

It will also do Zuma and his government a world of good if he could also rein in the proliferate spending by selfserving officials.

It is time to put aside the rhetoric and back-slapping that characterised the last speech. We need sound and sensible leadership now more than ever before.

The country has a working blueprint for a bright future in the form of the National Development Plan.

Former planning minister Trevor Manuel warned that its implementation required bringing about measurable change.

And that is exactly what this country needs.

South Africa is at a crossroads. Zuma has an opportunity to put us on a good path.

The alternative is too ghastly to contemplate.