By OBAKENG MAJE
7 February 2025- The Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa said together, they have built durable institutions that support democracy, protect their fundamental rights and promote the well-being of South Africans. Ramphosa, who delivered State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday in Cape Town said they have built meaningful partnerships between government and business, labour, civil society and other social partners to drive growth and development.
He further said these stand as models of cooperation for the rest of the world. Ramaphosa added that South Africans are continuing to work together to confront the country’s challenges and build a nation that works for all.
“In the last week, we have adopted the Medium Term Development Plan, which sets out a clear and ambitious programme for the next five years. The actions contained in the Medium Term Development Plan will advance our three strategic priorities:
“Firstly, to drive inclusive growth and job creation. Secondly, to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living. Thirdly, to build a capable, ethical and developmental state,” he said.
Ramaphosa said their most urgent task is to grow the economy, so that they can create jobs, reduce poverty and improve the lives of all South Africans. He said to undertake this task, they need a government that works for the people.
“We need a state that is capable and competent, underpinned by a professional public service. South Africans want a state that treats all people with dignity, humility and respect. A state with leaders who are prepared to serve our people with complete dedication, and public servants who are ethical, skilled and properly qualified.
“To achieve these objectives, we are strengthening the role of the Public Service Commission (PSC) in the appointment of the key people who direct the affairs of our state such as Directors-General, Deputy Directors-General, Chief Executive Officers of SOEs and board members and other senior positions,” said Ramaphosa.
He said they will introduce a graduate recruitment scheme so that they may attract the best and the brightest into the public service. Ramaphosa said a capable state must start where people live and work.
“In many cities and towns across the country, roads are not maintained, water and electricity supply is often disrupted, refuse is not collected and sewage runs in the streets.
“In part, this has happened because many municipalities lack the technical skills and resources required to meet people’s needs. Many municipalities have not reinvested the revenue they earn from these services into the upkeep of infrastructure. Starting this year, we will work with our municipalities to establish professionally managed, ring-fenced utilities for water and electricity services to ensure that there is adequate investment and maintenance,” he said.
Ramaphosa said many of the challenges in municipalities arise from the design of the local government system. He said they will therefore undertake extensive consultation to develop an updated White Paper on Local Government to outline a modern and fit-for-purpose local government system.
“We will review the funding model for municipalities as many of them do not have a viable and sustainable revenue base. We will continue to work with traditional leaders in the implementation of local development programmes.
“We will expand our support to municipalities that require assistance, drawing on the lessons of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group. We are seeing great progress in eThekwini as we implement the district development model, which enables all key role players in government, business, labour and community-based organisations to work together,” said Ramaphosa.
The Guardian 