ANC ministers defend party track record
Opposition parties list government’s failures during debate on president’s State of the Nation address
ANC ministers and MPs came out in defence of the track record of the party following criticism from opposition parties, which said state institutions had been run down.
The criticism was made at a joint sitting of Parliament to debate the State of the Nation address delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa last week.
Opposition parties called for changes in the government, and used the opportunity to list the failures of the ANC government over the past 25 years.
In reaction, ministers spoke in support of the policies and programmes of the governing party.
DA MP Jacques Julius accused Ramaphosa of failing to remedy problems at the country’s borders.
He said the country had porous borders, which criminal syndicates were taking advantage of, and said the SANDF’s request for more resources to deal with problems at the borders had been ignored.
His colleague, Geordin Hill-Lewis, said the problems that afflicted the the country and state institutions had existed while Ramaphosa was deputy president.
“You see, the truth cuts through all the candy-floss, sir. The truth is that the ANC set the house on fire and is now asking for five more years to put the fire out,” Hill-Lewis said.
“While the president peddles hope the country is asking, ‘how did we get here, who got us here, and Mr President, what were you doing when you were there all the time?’”
African Christian Democratic Party leader Reverend Kenneth Meshoe said the government had been battling to fix ailing Eskom.
He said the load shedding under way had caused disruption to the economy and businesses.
“The ACDP is very concerned about the disruptive effects that load shedding has on the lives of ordinary South Africans, its chaotic impact on our public transport system and the economic burden it places on our business sector,” said Meshoe.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said the government had delivered basic services in the past two-and-a-half decades.
She said the government was implementing programmes to replace pit latrine toilets in poor, rural schools.
Ramaphosa had said there were 4 000 schools with pit latrines and he wanted them to be replaced.
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said the government would soon table the National Health Insurance Bill in Parliament.
“Mr President, you said the NHI Bill will be tabled in Parliament.
“For the first time, NHI will ensure received health care has nothing to do with the depth of your pockets,” Motsoaledi said.