
UASA Media Release: 04 February 2025
Statement by Abigail Moyo, spokesperson of the trade union UASA:
This year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) is not about the usual domestic challenges such as the energy crisis, unemployment rate, economic growth, and service delivery that threaten South Africa.
This time, Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa has to address the outcome of our soldiers killed by Rwandan-sponsored forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the uproar with US President Donald Trump.
When Ramaphosa addresses the nation on Thursday evening, we expect to hear solid reformation plans for the challenges and crises South Africans have dealt with for years. Everything should be about the economy and the prosperity of South Africans.
We urge Ramaphosa to focus on key interventions to grow the economy with a focus on the following points:
Domestic challenges
• The power utility Eskom and the water crisis. Following the rude reminder over the weekend that load shedding is still possible, the water crises across the country are also growing in urgency. Slowly, they are becoming an enormous challenge to control and remedy over time. We need stable financial and infrastructure support to ensure the sustainability of the power grid and water supply.
• A viable economic plan. We need to kick-start the economy to create jobs while sustaining the jobs already created. Our state-owned enterprises (SOEs) continue to struggle, but a financial injection combined with strong, stabilising policies may not only provide a secure future for them but could also absorb a chunk of the almost 12 million unemployed South Africans who need proper jobs.
• Climate Change and Just Transition. South Africa is increasingly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters such as severe storms, floods and heatwaves. We urge the government to implement comprehensive climate adaptation and mitigation strategies by improving early warning systems, enhancing disaster
response mechanisms, and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure. We call for viable action in terms of just transition sustainability, inclusive economies and labour protection.
• Security cluster. Strategic and practical solutions to strengthen the security cluster to tackle the high crime levels, including rampant murders and gender-based violence.
• Health and education. Funding for the health and education system is desperately needed.
• Corruption. We expect the government to severely punish the corrupt individuals who run the country into the ground. Acts of corruption are the leading cause of maladministration, poverty, and inequality in the country, and we cannot tolerate it any longer. The time of sweet, empty words about how the corrupt shall be called to order and prosecuted, followed by zero action, is over. South Africans have had it with the government overlooking criminal actions. Resources and taxpayers’ money must work in favour of the South African people, not to enrich individuals.
SANDF soldiers
Although the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is leading the mission of supporting the DRC government in restoring peace, security, and stability, we urge Ramaphosa to ensure our soldiers are protected and safely extricated from the situation. We further urge the government to provide a thorough assessment of missions to guarantee that soldiers receive the resources and political support to fulfil their missions where they are deployed.
Donald Trump
We urge Ramaphosa to decisively address Trump’s threats and challenges to our country. The withdrawal of the Pepfar programme can set back our health system and pose a risk to South Africans who benefit from the funding. Ramaphosa must intervene urgently and find viable ways to salvage the situation without risking lives.
Put South Africans first
While many economic and societal challenges persist, we note the progress made by our government to address the energy crisis, economic reformation, and providing basic needs and services to the people of South Africa. However, we remind our leaders to put the needs of our people first. Address South Africa’s inequality, poverty and unemployment issues while looking into turnaround plans to save the economy.
We urge Ramaphosa and his Government of National Unity to move our country and its people forward. We don’t need any further empty reassurances. We are already experiencing the challenges and tribulations that have devastated our nation. We demand practical solutions and plans for a better South Africa.
For further enquiries or to set up a personal interview, contact Abigail Moyo at 065 170 0162.