Parliament - President Jacob Zuma will later today respond to the Parliamentary debate on the State of the Nation Address which he tabled before the National Assembly last week.
President Zuma delivered his maiden State of the Nation Address last Wednesday placing emphasis on poverty alleviation and improved education, health care employment and South Africa's response to the global economic crisis.
Watched by former Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki, as well as thousands of South Africans, President Zuma outlined the new path for government for the next five years and also promised to stay the course.
However, he cautioned that the economic downturn will affect the pace at which South Africa is able to address its social and economic challenges. Despite the challenges, the President said it will not alter the direction of the country's development.
Last week, leaders of political parties and Members of Parliament debated the speech in the National Assembly, which received a mixed response.
They pledged to work with the new administration but also criticised the speech as being a wish-list.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and Congress of the People (Cope) warned that President Zuma's speech was more promise than anything else.
Cope's Deputy President Mbhazima Shilowa wanted to know why there were no tangible targets about how government would implement its plan of action.
IFP leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, said he regarded the speech as an expression of intent, rather than a detailed programme of action.
DA leader in Parliament Athol Trollip warned that government had to attend to the fact that bureaucracy and labour laws were killing small business, especially in the current economic crisis.
Mr Trollip was also concerned about creeping socialism, particularly in agrarian reform. He did, however, welcome President Zuma's admission that the country was facing grave challenges like HIV and AIDS as well as a skills deficit.
Today, the President will respond to the issues they had raised.
