Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, says government is ready for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Ramaphosa will address the nation for the first time as President at 7pm in the National Assembly. This will be broadcast live across several platforms to millions of South Africans.
“We are very busy as government as well as the Presidency for our brand new President, Cyril Ramaphosa, [who will be] delivering his first State of the Nation Address as the fifth democratically elected President at 7pm.
“I do hope that he is going to be highlighting all the achievements that the ANC government has made in the last 12 months but particularly, [the highlights]… for the next 12 months,” said Minister Radebe.
The Minister said he was also hopeful that the President would highlight the important social compact between government, business and labour and organs of society so that they collectively focus their attention on job creation.
“The 26% unemployment in our country is extremely high and it affects in particular our young people and women. We need to ensure that we leave no stone unturned as South Africans and each of us must put shoulder to the wheel in changing the situation around,” he said.
Remembering Madiba
As the country prepares to celebrate the centenary of late former statesman Nelson Mandela, the Minister said South Africans should aim to emulate the struggle icon in everything they do.
“We must remember the values that he cherished, the principles under which his life and times were characterised and also to ensure that we, as South Africans and citizens of the world, embrace his vision. We need to embrace the future that he wanted, where there will be no discrimination based on race or creed,” he said.
He said it was important for government to build on the foundation that Madiba laid in a quest to create a better life for all South Africans.
The 2018 State of the Nation Address follows recent political developments that saw a transition in the Office of the President to President Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa was elected on 15 February 2018 by the National Assembly as President of the Republic.
The President will provide an update on the implementation of the Programme of Action based on the National Development Plan (NDP). The 2018 SONA will also be delivered within the context of the current strides made by government to respond to the various challenges facing the country.
The address will be followed by a debate in the National Assembly on 19 February 2018 and the President’s reply to the debate.
The 2018 State of the Nation Address launches government’s commemoration of the centenary of the life of Nelson Mandela.
The celebration is a major milestone in the incredible story of Nelson Mandela and the nation’s journey. – SAnews.gov.za
