WeeklySA_AdminMANDATE: Over the next five years, government’s focus would be to ensure all departments worked closely towards implementing the priorities it had set out…
By Monk Nkomo
The South African nation would never be truly united in the absence of equality because the struggle against apartheid was, not only for liberation from racial oppression but a struggle for better life, dignity and economic opportunity.
‘’It is the plight of those who are poor, unemployed and living lives of great hardship that should occupy our attention’’, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
He was replying to the debate on the Presidency Budget Vote 2024/ 2025 in the Parliament Chamber at the Cape Town City Centre in Western Cape this week where he also outlined the agenda of the Government of National Unity and the steps to be taken to place the country on a path of growth and renewal.
Thirty years after apartheid was brought to an end, the government must recognise that many South Africans were still disenchanted and frustrated. Many people chose not to vote in the May 2024 general elections. Some were turning to extremes or even turning against democracy itself, Ramaphosa said.
‘’ We must seize the opportunity that this Government of National Unity presents to restore these people’s trust in our democracy and to realise the promise of dignity and equality that is contained in our Constitution.’’
At the heart of all of the policies that would be adopted and the actions to be taken running as a thread through all the debates, was the question of what kind of a country the government wanted to build. Many of those in Parliament had dedicated their lives to the pursuit of a South Africa that was free, democratic, united and prosperous because they believed in the country’s potential.
‘’We seek to build a society in which every person enjoys the same opportunities regardless of their race, gender or background, in which every person is free to be exactly who they are, in which we embrace our diversity and the inherent worth of every human being. And we believe that the people of South Africa have what it takes to build a truly great nation, with a thriving economy that creates jobs and lifts millions of people out of poverty’’, said Ramaphosa.
He added that the struggle against apartheid was not only a struggle for liberation from racial oppression. It was also a struggle for a better life, for a life of dignity and for economic opportunity.
Yet for too many South Africans, despite the many ways in which their lives had improved over the past thirty years, the promise of a better life remained elusive. This was true for every person who was forced to live on the street for lack of shelter, for every parent who is forced to forgo a meal so that their children can eat and for every young person who left school with a certificate but could not find a job.
It was the great challenge of the democratic government and the intention of this Administration to fulfil that promise of a better life for all.
‘’We have the skills, the talent, the resources and the will to do this. And we have an opportunity through this Government of National Unity to come together to make this vision a reality. It is this belief in our enduring ability to improve our society, in what we can achieve as a nation by working together, that motivates me and that is the driving force of this Presidency. The Constitution requires me, as President, to promote the unity of the nation and all that which will advance the Republic’’.
In carrying out this Constitutional mandate, Ramaphosa considered it his overriding duty, with all of those representatives in Parliament, to create a society that was more just, more equal, more compassionate and more humane.
“Let us engage constructively and with respect. Let us show modesty and humility. Let us draw closer to the people we represent, not further away. “Let us show in our actions that we are here to serve our people, not to enrich ourselves or to access positions of privilege.
“Above all, let us show that Government will work for the people and that we can create a new era of growth and prosperity in our country.’’
This was the task which the Presidency would focus on over the next five years, working closely with all departments to implement the priorities it had set out. The President said currently, in our history, when we faced complex and urgent challenges, strong coordination from the centre of government was critical.
Several speakers in Parliament, he added, rightly pointed out that many communities around the country still suffered with acute water challenges and poor quality of water. Some called for the issue of water as a key developmental issue to be located in The Presidency.
The reforms that were underway in the water sector – like reinstituting water quality monitoring systems, developing a raw water pricing strategy, and establishing Water Partnerships Office to develop water infrastructure – had direct and material benefits for service delivery. Improved water infrastructure ensured more reliable and sustainable water supply. Water quality management systems meant cleaner water and a reduced health risk.
