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President Cyril Ramaphosa arrives at Parliamentary Precinct ahead of the SONA.
As President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to deliver the State of the Nation Address this evening at 7pm, political parties have shared their expectations ahead of the speech.
Representatives of political parties share their expectations for this year’s SONA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQC2ZAuFeD8
‘More rhetoric’
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says it expects nothing but more rhetoric than solutions from the address.
The State of the Nation Address (SONA) comes amid ongoing protests in parts of Gauteng over the water outages that have left residents with dry taps for weeks.
EFF national spokesperson, Thembi Msane says they don’t think this year’s SONA will inspire any confidence to the people of South Africa.
“People are tired of being sold dreams. People are tired of seeing the state of our municipalities dilapidating, yet every year they have to listen to dreams, they have to listen to speeches which have no form of accountability.”
“If you have to listen to Ramaphosa’s speech today, it will be as if he is coming in to office for the first time. There will not be any stocktaking since he became President of what has been done,” explains Msane.
Rural safety & GBVF
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.”
Job creation
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.”
Foot-and-mouth disease
Meanwhile, ActionSA says it expects SONA to outline solutions to curb the rapid spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
ActionSA leader Athol Trollip says the delayed response to the outbreak is likely to have a negative impact on farmers and consumers already under financial strain.
He adds that the Government of National Unity has failed to prevent many local municipalities from teetering on the brink of collapse.
