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File: President Cyril Ramaphosa delivering SONA.
Some of the political parties represented in Parliament says President Cyril Ramaphosa must address bread and butter issues facing South Africans when he delivers the State of the Nation Address.
Ramaphosa will deliver this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday evening at the Cape Town City Hall.
The City Hall has been hosting SONA since the fire that ravaged some of the building of Parliament in January 2022.
Some of the political partis say the President must address, joblessness, water challenges as well as safety and security matters.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) Caretaker Chief Whip Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi says the party wants President Ramaphosa to show evidence of the delivery under the Government of National Unity (GNU).
“From the MK Party and as the official opposition we are looking for one thing delivered (achieved). The President must explain what the Government of National Unity has changed not politically. Economically we want to know practically … people have no water, electricity is still unstable municipalities are still failing and young people remain locked out of the economy,” adds Mokoena-Zondi.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) wants the President to focus among other things on rural safety as well as gender-based violence and femicide.
Party’s Chief Whip, Nhlanhla Hadebe says, “We expect firm action to strengthen border control, address illegal immigration and improve rural safety with better policies and dedicated gender-based violence and femicide units. We want real plans to bring down youth unemployment, support small businesses, small scale farming and water security must also take centre stage”
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) says job creation as well as safer communities must be prioritised.
The party’s MP Jasmine Petersen explains: “In this SONA the Patriotic Alliance expects to see more of the GNU promises gradually fulfilled with clear guidelines and accountability in advancing economic inclusion, job creation, safer communities and equitable development for all.”
The leader of Build One South Africa (BOSA) Dr Mmusi Maimane wants Ramaphosa to also tackle educational matters.
“[President Ramaphosa] Must be able to tell us categorically who the Minister of Police is. So that we have stable leadership. We can ensure that we devolve policing and ensure that we increase the 120.000 missing detectives, so that South Africa becomes safe. President Ramaphosa [should] address the question of education … how do we increase the number of learners who taking maths and science. So that more can participate in the economy. Thirdly, how do we ensure that our economy is able to grow between 4% and 5%,” explains Dr Maimane.
The Al Jama-ah wants Ramaphosa to put emphasis on issues of solidarity.
Party’s MP, Imraan Ismail-Moosa says, “Al Jama-ah expects the President to reaffirm South Africa’s historic commitment to African and international solidarity rooted in the support we ourselves received during the anti apartheid struggle. We further expect clarity that restrictive doctrines such as the so called first save country principle has no basis on international refugee law.”
The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) wishes that the question of land is prioritised by Ramaphosa.
Secretary General Apa Pooe elaborates: “The PAC therefore expect SONA to confront the real crisis. Immediate land restoration and tenure security industrialisation that creates dignified and sustainable jobs. Uncompromised end to corruption and wasteful expenditure. Bold investment in youth development education and community infrastructure. To secure the land is to restore justice to empower the young and build the nation South Africa. [We] cannot postpone economic freedom any longer – the time for justice is now.”
