South African politicians have generally reacted favourably to President Thabo Mbeki’s State of the Nation address at the opening of Parliament in Cape Town on Friday.
Mbeki focused mostly on the government’s plans to support its Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative (Asgi), aimed at boosting economic growth and job creation, to which he pledged funds totalling R372-billion over the next three years.
However, the president also acknowledged serious shortcomings in the areas of local government delivery and skills shortages, among others.
Tony Leon, official opposition Democratic Alliance leader, commented: “I thought that in terms of the national goals it was a positive speech. We need to grow the economy and cut down on crime and corruption. I have no problem with that. The problem is there is a huge reliance on the state sector [to promote growth].
“The review of the willing-buyer, willing-seller policy … can be a red flag to investor confidence. Markets react to sentiment.”
Said Bantu Holomisa, United Democratic Movement leader: “It was an interesting sermon. He delivered it as if he were a CEO of a company, accounting to the nation what he has done. Yes, what Tony Leon has said actually is correct … but I would differ on the land issue. What he has failed to do is show strong leadership on his part and ensure nervous people … about the Constitution being amended to allow him a third term.”
Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder said: “I think the president correctly analysed the problems. He proposed lot of new projects … and a lot of new money. He was honest in saying the problem is service delivery. We welcome mention of our project to harvest that expertise that we lost through affirmative action.”
“What is good is more money into infrastructure development, but there is not a clear plan on how to achieve this,” said Patricia de Lille, Independent Democrats leader.
Ibrahim Rasool, African National Congress Premier of the Western Cape, said: “There was realism in the speech in that, in particular local governments need to implement plans to improve their delivery and they are going to work on this. It was a celebration of great economic successes as well as realism as to what challenges are ahead.”
“President Mbeki cited surveys that have reconfirmed that South Africa is on a very good wicket, and we need to make the most of it,” said Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel. “Yet this year will be an exceedingly hard one, and those who think that because revenue is going well we have it easy, are wrong.”
Pandelani Nefolovhodwe, MP for the Azanian People’s Organisation, commented: “The news that from now the willing-buyer, willing-seller process for land will no longer apply and government will intervene so the poor will get their land back is very welcome.
“Also, I was glad to hear that there will be a specific fund to fund building houses for the people.” — I-Net Bridge