We need opposition to show it has teeth
FIRSTLY, as a citizen of this country, I want to thank President Cyril Ramaphosa for his forward-thinking State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Thursday.
You’ve addressed many issues that affect living in South Africa. As usual, after the address, the opposition parties could not wait to tell us via the media the negative issues of your speech, and they stressed nothing positive of your political promises.
I want to address the opposition political parties’ stance, bearing in mind that I have voted for one of these parties for many years.
With all the mismanagement, corruption, state capture, poor or no service delivery, crime, etc, what have they done to address these issues in Parliament, the courts or on the ground level?
My understanding is that when the governing party does things that are unlawful and unconstitutional, the opposition parties, as one mighty voice, should take up the banners of justice, human rights and constitutionally. Yet the opposition, the watchdogs of our democracy and shepherds of the flock, were silent in their tangible actions. Yes, you spoke about it, but we all know talk is cheap, and so are promises. The only time talk and promises are praiseworthy is when one sees and feels them.
This year, we need the president on an almost monthly basis to address us on the promises of his Sona speech, and in line with that, the opposition parties are to play their part in seeing promises being carried out and keeping us informed.
Two issues that struck a nerve at this year’s Sona were:
Firstly, the president stated that poverty must be addressed. Employment cannot address poverty but what can address poverty is to bring the cost of living down.
Secondly, with regard to the gogos who tried to present a petition at the Sona with signatures bemoaning that their Sassa grants were insufficient, they apparently wrote to the minister of finance, who allegedly never responded. However, what really touched me was their comment: “Then we will come back next year.”
These gogos struggling to make ends meet are prepared to suffer in dignity until next year.
To conclude, I quote Benjamin Disraeli: “No government can be long secure without a formidable opposition.”
KEITH ALFRED ADOLPH BLAKE Ottery