President Cyril Ramaphosa has admitted that under his first term as head of the South African government the economy has continued to shrink.
The head of the Government of National Unity (GNU) also conceded that he could have done more to create jobs in the country with a 45.5% unemployment rate.
Ramaphosa was addressing a joint sitting of the newly established two Houses of Parliament at the Cape Town City Hall for the seventh administration last night, 50 days after the general elections.
The event, which coincided with the Nelson Mandela International Day, marked the start of a new five-year parliamentary cycle for the administration following the general elections.
The seventh administration is made up of several political parties including the DA, the IFP, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) among others.
He announced his Cabinet earlier this month that was inclusive of the 10 parties that have signed a pact of the administration.
Ramaphosa, who is on his second term as the president of South Africa, led the first Cabinet lekgotla at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Tshwane last weekend.
The GNU is facing a daunting opposition from the EFF, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), the United Africans Transformation, and the African Transformation Movement (ATM), who have formed what they call a “progressive caucus”.
The parties are planning to have Ramaphosa removed as president on the basis of the findings of the Phala Phala panel, headed by former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo.
The report, which was later dismissed in a vote by previous MPs, had found that Ramaphosa had a case to answer on his Phala Phala scandal that rocked the country after a sum of foreign currency was stolen from the farm in February 2020.
In the address that provided the president an opportunity to outline key priorities and policies of the new GNU, Ramaphosa made a promise that the GNU would work despite indifference.
“Ten political parties have agreed to craft a common plan to build South Africa. We are building a weaver nest that will include all South Africans. As South Africans there is no mountain we cannot climb or reach… As South Africans we can reach many hills as long as we are together.
“We must make this government of national unity work… We shall make it work!” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa conceded that the last 30 under the ANC government was a challenge.
“Despite the achievements of 30 years of democracy, and the work undertaken over the last five years to rebuild our economy and our society, millions of South Africans remain poor, unemployed and live in a highly unequal society… For a decade and a half, our economy has barely grown.
“The circumstances of the South African people today require that we act together as the Government of National Unity and all key role players in our country with great urgency, boldly and decisively,” he said.
He said the GNU had resolved to dedicate the next five years to actions that will advance three strategic priorities.
“Firstly, to drive inclusive growth and job creation… Secondly, to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living… Thirdly, to build a capable, ethical and developmental state.
“We have decided to place inclusive economic growth at the centre of the work of the GNU and at the top of the national agenda.
The Star
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