SA sets sights on progress
This month President Jacob Zuma will deliver the State of the Nation Address setting the agenda for the year ahead and taking stock of the progress made with plans he announced last year.
The economy will no doubt be in the spotlight following a challenging year in 2017. As President Zuma has already indicated radical socio-economic transformation will be the main focus of government in 2018 and will inform the delivery of all programmes.
The country has formally emerged from a technical recession after two consecutive quarters of decline.
Statistics South Africa reports positive contributions to higher economic activity across most industries lifted the gross domestic product Gross Domestic Product by 2.5 percent quarteron-quarter.
Despite these positive developments, much work still needs to be done. For its part, government will continue to promote investments and lay the foundation for increased growth through the infrastructure rollout programme.
The private sector also has a role to play in ensuring our economy is inclusive and beneficial to all South Africans. We should not underestimate the contribution of entrepreneurs to the economy and job creation.
We also need to support communities who receive basic services and identify with the importance of basic services in government strategy for 2018.
Government is providing social assistance to over 17 million poor South Africans through social grants.
In addition, about 13.5 percent of South African households now live in RDP or state-subsidised dwellings, as opposed to only five percent in 2002.
National statistics released in the General Household Survey 2016 show that the percentage of households connected to main line electricity supply has increased from 77.1 percent in 2002 to 84.2 percent in 2016.
Households with access to improved sanitation increased from 62.3 percent in 2002 to 80.9 percent in 2016 and about 88.8 percent of households now have access to piped water.
Even with these developments our work as government is far from over.
South Africans are relying on us to open the door to a better life.
In the year that we celebrate the centenary of former President Nelson Mandela, there can be no greater tribute to him than to listen and attend to the needs of our people, regardless of their colour, gender or religious belief.
Whatever lies ahead in 2018, rest assured that Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) will keep our citizens informed about developments in government as well as its policies, plans, programmes and achievements.
This year marks 20 years of GCIS, having being officially launched in May 1998. Since then GCIS has focused its efforts on becoming the pulse of communication excellence in government and 2018 will be no different.
Let us all unite to ensure that South Africa takes another step forward in 2018.