CONVERSATIONS WITH LEADERS
Writer: Dale Hes
President puts SONA plans into perspective I
n the weeks following the State of
clarity on some of the key points
government programmes benefit
the Nation Address (SONA), the
made in the address, while oth-
the people of South Africa, par-
wheels of democracy have been
ers voiced new concerns and
ticularly the poor and vulnerable.
turning at full speed. President Cyril
brought other issues to the table.
President Ramaphosa asserted
Ramaphosa’s planned interven-
The SONA debate was a highly
that the overarching role of gov-
tions, policies and programmes
constructive platform for ironing
ernment programmes should be
were placed under the spotlight
out the uncertainty.
to continue improving the lives of
during two days of heated debate
these people.
during various in-depth interviews
Advancing the lives of people
in the SONA has at its core
with the media.
Much of the debate revolved
the needs and interests of the
around the issue of ensuring that
poor people of our country,” he
from members of parliament, and
South Africans have sought
“The programme we outlined
stressed. The past 25 years have heralded some major achievements for South Africa, but the President acknowledged that there are still immense challenges facing millions of South Africans. “Although we have raised millions of people out of absolute poverty; although we have built over three million houses and provided water and electricity, there are still more than two million families that live in informal settlements. Nearly a third of children under the age of five are stunted due to severe and long-time malPresident Cyril Ramaphosa during his reply of t he State of t he Nation Address debate.
nutrition,” President Ramaphosa noted. More than seven million jobs have been created in South Af-
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Public Sector Manager • March 2019