Revisiting promises
LOOKS BACK AT ACHIEVEMENTS MADE BY GOVERNMENT State-owned enterprises, Eskom, SA Airways, SABC remain major worry.
The ANC says President Cyril Ramaphosa does not make hollow promises and that his government has already delivered on the commitments made in the 2018 State of the Nation address (Sona).
This according to the Presidency ahead of last night’s second Sona delivered by Ramaphosa in parliament.
On jobs
The presidency termed the Presidential Jobs Summit in October “a landmark framework agreement of high-impact actions to drive job creation, job retention and economic growth”.
A R100 billion (over five years) investment in black businesses and enterprises in the industrial sector was set aside – covering R1.5 billion for a new Smallholder Support Fund and R1.5 billion for the Township Enterprise Fund.
It also included accelerating plans to set aside 30% of government spend for small businesses and co-operatives.
On youth empowerment
In March, the Youth Empowerment Service was launched with the goal of helping more than one million youths being offered paid work over three years.
On trade
In July, South Africa signed to establish an African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, which was to create a market of more than one billion people.
Parliament ratified the agreement in December.
On investment
The South Africa Investment Conference in October was attended by more than 1 000 delegates.
Pledge announcements included Sappi (R7.7 billion), Mondi South Africa (R8 billion), Rain (R1 billion), Mara (R1.5 billion), mining company Vedanta (R21.4 billion), Ivanplats (R4.5 billion), AngloAmerican (R71.5 billion), Bushveld Minerals (R2.5 billion), media giant Naspers (R6 billion) and Mercedes-Benz South Africa (R10 billion).
On policy certainty
The finalisation of the Mining Charter 3, gazetted in September, was welcomed by industry. The presidency said: “SA’s mining sector must play an important role in helping us to reach our goals of eliminating poverty, reducing inequality and creating jobs.”
On fighting corruption
The Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, which began in August, has a mandate to inquire, investigate and make recommendations. A number of current and former public servants have since appeared before the inquiry.
The presidency repeated Ramaphosa’s words at the ANC manifesto launch in Kimberley, Northern Cape: “As much as we’re going through a process where there are commissions of inquiry, we are saying we should not be afraid of all those things that are being said and revealed because it
On the national minimum wage Good governance
is the truth that must come out.” This came into effect at the start of 2019 and will change the lives of six millions workers, says the presidency, helping to reduce “inequality in society and decreasing huge disparities in income in the national labour market”. After pledging to stabilise and restore the SA Revenue Service (Sars), Ramaphosa appointed a commission of inquiry in May to look into tax administration and governance at the entity.
Chaired by retired Justice Robert Nugent, the commission has since submitted its final recommendations for criminal prosecutions and far-reaching changes to restore Sars.
“The president has also taken decisive steps to address the challenges facing our state-owned enterprises, including Eskom, SA Airways and the SA Broadcasting Corporation,” said the presidency.
During the 2018 Sona, Ramaphosa pledged government would address “the leadership crisis at the National Prosecuting Authority ...” The appointment of the new national director of public prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, has been widely welcomed, it added.
In March, Youth Empowerment Service was launched