EFF ruined the right to hear Ramaphosa

THE behaviour by the EFF is unacceptable. Their behaviour in Parliament needs to be condemned. It cannot be tolerated in a democratic South Africa. Their despicable behaviour while President Cyril Ramaphosa was delivering his speech was out of bounds.

Sabotaging a democraticallyelected Parliament is treachery.

I understand freedom of speech is enshrined in our Constitution, however the right to freedom of expression does not trump other constitutional values.

A balance should be struck between the right to freedom of expression and the right to equality. Citizens who want to listen to the president’s address should be given that opportunity.

South Africa faces key challenges such as poverty, low levels of education and unemployment, as well as an urgent need for economic growth.

The status quo cannot prevail and the EFF is absolutely not the party that will take us out of this challenge. They bring nothing meaningful to the problems we face.

South Africa needs to wake up, work together and innovate in order to address our socio-economic challenges.

Additionally, if South Africa’s economic growth numbers don’t improve soon, we could experience another series of credit rating downgrades, further ensnaring the country in a low-growth trap.

If one examines the challenges that lie ahead, ratings agencies have every right to be concerned.

Out of a population of about 57.7 million, the official unemployment rate of 26.7% is high in comparison to emerging market peers such as Brazil with 12.9%, India with 3.5%, China with 4% and Mexico with 3.4%.

At 52.4%, the youth unemployment rate is a real concern.

South Africans want to hear how the president will address these issues. We want to know how land reform and farm evictions will be addressed.

Developmental potential has been lost as resources have been shifted away from creating value for the South African public to swelling the pockets of a select few.

Although addressing the problems at the SOEs is high on Ramaphosa’s priority list, turning them around will be time-consuming and is bound to be met with resistance.

I was glad to hear that the government will be releasing about 700 000ha of state land for agricultural production. We really need land because it can bring food to millions of tables.

Of fundamental importance, the president also announced a new selection policy for potential land reform beneficiaries that will include compulsory training before land allocation, which will benefit mostly youth, women, people with disabilities and those who have been farming on communal land and are ready to expand their operations. | TSHEPO DIALE Nkwe Estate