Parliament - President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address has received mixed reaction from political party leaders and organisations.
The overall feeling was that the President had delivered a balanced and uplifting address considering a grey economic climate.
Leader of the Independent Democrats, Patricia de Lille, speaking from the steps of the National Assembly, said all the goals which had been set out in the address were laudable.
"We have heard some before; now the challenge will be to see if government can walk the talk and achieve the goals set," she said.
African Christian Democratic Party President Reverend Kenneth Meshoe said: "It was a good balanced speech and raised hopes of the people. However, no specifics were given of how government is going to handle the economic crisis or how it was going to create job opportunities."
Helen Zille, Premier of the Western Cape and leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), said that the President has pressed a lot of right buttons with regard to accountability, education and the independence of the judiciary.
"However, now we must see if action follows the words. We will hold the President accountable," she said, adding that the idea of a single Public Service was one that the DA felt could not work and one which it would resist.
Congress of the People's Mbhazima Shilowa said he felt that the address was "more like a wish list".
President of the party, Reverend Mvume Dandala said: "The President did not outline a programme of how things were going to be implemented. There were no new fresh ideas."
He further said that a sense of urgency regarding the recession was missing from the address.
The Freedom Front Plus' Pieter Mulder said he had been impressed by Mr Zuma's honesty. He said in the past the government would deny the reality of problems such as the crisis in Zimbabwe and the rate of HIV infections.
"I am impressed with the honesty with which the President presented his address.He admitted the problems we have in corruption, crime, health and other areas. It was an address that goes back to basics."
However, Mr Mulder said that he was concerned that new ideas were to be implemented by an old public sector and old public servants. "The Public Service needs to be relooked at so that the ideas become a reality on the ground."
Secretary General of trade union federation COSATU, Zwelinzima Vavi, said that he had arrived at the State of the Nation Address depressed because of the impact the recession was having on South Africans.
"I had been listening to the union talk about the job losses, factory closures and layoffs and how the crisis was deepening. But after listening to the President talk, I feel revived. I like the commitment government has made in scaling down the impact of the recession and building up the infrastructure."
Charles Nqakula, political advisor to the President, said the aim of the speech was to provide a springboard for all sectors in government and for the nation to positively address important issues facing the country.
"It was an address to put energy in the collaborative spirit of the nation and the government."
President of the African National Congress Youth League, Julius Malema, scored the President's address 10 out of ten.
"We are very happy with all the issues he has addressed, most of them pertain to health, education, safety, saving jobs and they all have something to do with the youth. This makes us happy."
Business Unity South Africa (Busa) CEO, Jerry Vilakazi said government's target of creating 500 000 job opportunities this year was "very achievable."
