STATE OF ELATION
General optimism at Ramaphosa’s positive maiden speech
NEWLY sworn-in President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday committed the government he now leads to ethical behaviour and leadership.
Delivering the 2018 State ofthe Nation address (Sona) a day after being sworn in, Ramaphosa spoke of change and renewal after years of criticism against his predecessor Jacob Zuma, who resigned under pressure this week.
Zuma’s presidency was dogged by controversy and allegations of state capture and criminal behaviour.
There was a reason, Ramaphosa said, the year of 2018 was dedicated to Nelson Mandela, who would have turned 100 in July.
“We have dedicated this year to his memory and we will devote our every action, every effort, every utterance to the realisation of his vision of a democratic, just and equitable society. Guided by his example, we will use this year to reinforce our commitment to ethical behaviour and ethical leadership,” said Ramaphosa.
In what many interpret as criticism of the Zuma era, Ramaphosa said South Africans should put all the negativity “behind us”.
“We should put behind us the era of diminishing trust in public institutions and weakened confidence in leaders,” he said.
Reacting to Ramaphosa’s maiden address in Parliament, DA leader Mmusi Maimane congratulated the president on his speech, but was critical on the insistence of land expropriation without compensation.
Maimane said the crucial point was that size of the state had to be reduced.
“It’s a welcome initiative to have a president who is engaged, those are important things. The crucial issue is the focus on young people, something that I’ve been very passionate about. Let’s get young people into the workforce. I welcome these initiatives,” said Maimane.
EFF leader Julius Malema said Ramaphosa came without a clear plan on funding free higher education. “There is no plan, he told us what we wanted to hear,” he said.
Malema insisted on his call that Ramaphosa should fire Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba, whom he described as a “deputy delinquent” before he delivered his Budget speech on Wednesday.
The NFP’s Nhlanhla Khubisa said his party welcomed Ramaphosa’s plans targeted at the youth, including higher education.
“We wait to see if they will be implemented,” Khubisa said.
Gareth van Onselen, the head of politics and governance at the Institute of Race Relations, said there was little to distinguish Ramaphosa from former presidents Zuma and Mbeki, who “launched no end of processes, commissions and strategies, all of which have with time fallen by the wayside.
“Those lofty ideals and values President Ramaphosa identified will live or die by how hard he is willing to fight for them and where, exactly, he is willing to draw a line in the sand, especially on the economy. As things stand, he described only the sand. We must all wait to see where the line will be drawn,” he said.
SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande, said: “It was very good, very strong… He was clearly looking for a social compact… And he sent the very clear signal that you cannot do so much, without dismantling the parasitic networks.
“The ANC said Ramaphosa’s address touched on boosting economic growth, reducing unemployment, dealing with corruption and reducing government deficit.
Ramaphosa said the government would initiate a process to review the configuration, number and size of national departments.
ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe said this was a mechanism of making sure the government delivers.
Ramaphosa also said they would deal with the issue of Shaun Abrahams by appointing the new head of the National Prosecuting Authority.
He said they would implement the Constitutional Court judgment on social grants. This is against the backdrop of the South African Social Security Agency’s application to the court to extend the Cash Paymaster Service contract for another six months.
“We will urgently take decisive steps to comply with all directions of the Constitutional Court. I… will take action to ensure no person in government is undermining implementation deadlines set by the court,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa said they would go ahead with the expropriation of land without compensation, but this would be done in a manner that would not harm the economy or threaten food security.
On education, he said Gigaba would outline details in the Budget on Wednesday on the funding of fee-free higher education.
He also vowed to crack down on corruption and state capture. He said all those who were responsible must be arrested and law enforcement agencies were on top of the situation. He said state-owned entities would be fixed and the government would screen people before they were appointed to boards.
The Commission of Inquiry into state capture would begin its work.
Ramaphosa said he would work with business, labour and civil society in fixing the economy.