Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Top of the presidential agenda
itics and governance at the Institute of Race Relations said Zuma and Mbeki before him, had launched no end of processes, commissions and strategies, all of which had with time fallen by the way side.
“While the sentiment was praiseworthy – although it always is in a Sona – those lofty ideals and values President Ramaphosa identified will live or die by how hard he is willing to fight for them and where, exactly, he is willing to draw a line in the sand, especially on the economy. As things stand, he described only the sand. We must all wait to see where the line will be drawn,” Van Onselen said.
Greenpeace Africa’s Happy Khambule said while Ramaphosa had made a compelling attempt to start a new chapter in his Sona address, “by failing to declare that nuclear will not go ahead or provide direction on the country’s energy pathway through the finalisation of the Integrated Resource Plan, he ha created more uncertainty in energy policy”.
SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande, meanwhile, heaped praise on the new president.
“It was very good, very strong,” said Nzimande, the former higher education minister who became a political enemy of former president Jacob Zuma and was fired by him late last year.
“He was clearly looking for a social compact, where everybody contributes.
“And he sent the very clear signal that you cannot do so much, without dismantling the parasitic networks,” he added of large-scale corruption at public enterprises. – Additional reporting by Weekend Argus reporters
Jobs Summit – present practical initiatives that can be implemented urgently to align efforts of all sectors behind job creation.
Investment Conference in the next quarter targeting domestic and international investors.
Special economic zones and programmes.
Youth Employment Service – place unemployed youth in paid internships.
Youth Working Group – policies and programmes to advance young South Africans’ interests.
Team to speed-up infrastructure, including schools, roads and power stations.
Engagement with stakeholders to transform mining.
Small Business Fund for small businesses and innovation start-ups.
Agriculture – including expropriation of land in a way that increases production and improves food security.
Tourism – destination marketing and emerging tourism.
National Minimum Wage comes into force.
Drought in Western, Eastern and Northern Cape elevated to national state of disaster to activate extraordinary measures.
Free higher education and training for first-year students from households with gross combined annual income of up to R350 000.