Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday responded to concerns raised by political parties and Members of Parliament regarding his maiden State of the Nation Address.
The President described the debate as being both instructive and encouraging.
"It has demonstrated that all parties in this House without exception are earnest in their commitment to this country and to harmonious relations amongst its people," he told parliamentarians.
Regardless of their differences as political parties, President Zuma believed that they all have a common goal, which is to make South Africa a great country.
President Zuma delivered his 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.
However, some of the issues he tabled received criticism from the opposition parties.
Responding to a concern whether or not government would have sufficient funds to bail out companies in distress during the downturn, the President said there was no intention on government's part to utilise the fiscus for general company bail-outs.
"As we indicated, we are working with development finance institutions such as the Industrial Development Corporation to identify such companies and, where appropriate, mobilise assistance," he told the National Assembly.
According to President Zuma, South Africa must keep the productive capacity of the economy intact so that it can respond in a timeous fashion to the revival in demand as the global economy recovers.
"It is important that our manufacturing, agriculture and mining sectors are ready for the recovery. That means we must do our best to retain skills and labour," the President said.
Last week he had cautioned that the economic downturn might affect the pace at which South Africa is able to address its social and economic challenges.
Mr Zuma went on to reiterate that government intended to create about 500 000 work opportunities this year, a statement that certain opposition parties said was a "wish-list".
"Let me emphasise that these measures are not a substitute for the permanent jobs that must be created and sustained in the economy," said Mr Zuma, adding hat the jobs are part of government's goal of creating about four million such opportunities by the end of this five-year term.
Regarding rural development, President Zuma said government would put emphasis on the need to deliver quality services in the rural areas. "We are fully committed to change the face of rural areas."
Moving on to concerns raised on the judiciary, which he indicated will be transformed, President Zuma assured members that it did not mean that government wanted to "infringe on its independence."
"The transformation of the judiciary entails amongst others having a court system that the people of South Africa have confidence in," said Mr Zuma, adding that part of this, was a need to ensure that judicial officers reflect the demographics of South Africa.
He explained that the transformation of the judiciary was, however, more than just a question of the composition of the Bench.
"It is also about ensuring an integrated, accessible and affordable court system; it is about judicial training and ensuring that we have judicial officers who are steeped in and reflect the progressive values of our constitution.
"It is about ensuring that all people have access to justice both in the criminal and the civil courts."
He further assured the House that as the President, he would act in the best interests of the country when exercising his powers when it comes to the appointment of judicial officers, in terms of the Constitution.
Government, Mr Zuma said, is firmly committed to the full implementation of the AIDS plan, which offers a comprehensive response to this grave epidemic.
Importantly, the targets described in this plan are not merely government targets, he said, adding that they were set together with social partners after extensive consultation.
The targets require a properly functioning public health care system to which all people have access to.
"That is why we have emphasised our plans to construct and rehabilitate public health care facilities, improve management and other systems, and address with urgency the working conditions and remuneration of health professionals," he indicated.
This he said includes finalising all matters relating to the Occupation Specific Dispensation, particularly proposals to address all the remaining categories.
