Opposition parties look forward to realistic plans

Eric Naki

Opposition parties last night welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s plan of action to deal with corruption, inept public service delivery and to put the state-owned enterprises on the right track.

They agreed his promise of a new era and new dawn appeared to be a reality after the crisis caused by Jacob Zuma, but they would hold him accountable for his promises.

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema said the president’s plans are in line with what South Africans had been yearning for, and said they would behave for now.

“We want peace in this house, we only had a problem with the delinquent (Zuma) who is now gone. There will be superior logic in this house from now,” he said.

But Malema warned: “he must arrest his colleagues in the ANC who are corrupt. The first thing he must do he must fire Malusi Gigaba. That man cannot deliver our budget next week, he is corrupt, he is behind the state capture.”

While welcoming Ramaphosa’s address DA leader Mmusi Maimane cautioned it was more of the same promises as in the past.

“Beyond the fine words of renewal and new-found unity, he unfortunately did not fulfil the expectations of the public with a clean break from the Zuma era, and a total change from the current tried, tested and failed ANC policies that have brought our nation to this point,” he said.

UDM president Bantu Holomisa said Ramaphosa’s intentions should be applauded but his promises were something that South African’s heard before, while ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule said Ramaphosa had set a positive mood for the country and marshalled all citizens to the same South African cause.

ANC deputy secretary, Jessie Duarte said they welcomed the plan by the president to remove red tape in the public service.

“I was impressed by his plan to personally go to government departments to ensure that they do their work. This shows that the president is serious about service delivery,” Duarte said.

Political analyst Dr Somadoda Fikeni said: “He hit the right note on the need to for youth employment and the fight against corruption.” “