Unemployment, economy and corruption top SONA Debate
Opposition parties have given their thoughts on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address.
The National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces held a joint sitting to debate last Thursday's address.
Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema said it remains a huge concern that unemployment in South Africa has worsened under the 6th administration.
"The unemployment rate in South Africa was 26.1%. Today the unemployment rate has increased to 30.1% and the number of unemployed people has increased to well over 10 million. Under his leadership more than 2 million who had jobs, when he took office no longer had jobs."
DA leader John Steenhuisen said government leaders need to be honest about the state the country is in, especially regarding economic challenges, "Anyone who steps up to this podium to try to sugarcoat the truth who tries to downplay the challenges or shield the inept and the corrupt will be doing our country and citizens a massive disservice."
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"With any chance of digging ourselves out of the hole that we are in then we have to be honest and truthful about the scale of our problems and the mistake contributed to putting us in this position and importantly the steps we must take to rectify them. The mood going into the SONA was not hopeful at all," added Steenhuisen.
IFP Founder Mangosuthu Buthelezi says corruption in this country is alarming, "The level of corruption and fraud that has assailed our fight against COVID-19 is unthinkable. Our people feel it, the fight against coronavirus has a greater chance at success without the corruption."
