UASA Media Release: 7 February 2025
Picture source: www.enca.com
Statement by Abigail Moyo, spokesperson of the trade union UASA:
Tonight South Africans sat through yet another disappointing State of the Nation Address (SONA) by Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa, filled with new operations, programmes and budget allocations to remedy challenges that the country has faced for years.
The so-called solutions are annually carefully reshuffled and renamed with a twist to the expected outcome to make them sound fresh out of the box, but offering no hope for economic growth or moving the nation forward.
There was, again, little evidence of some real work and results from Ramaphosa’s office. We expected much more from the Government of National Unity’s first SONA.
The positives:
That said, we welcome the allocation of more than R940 billion on infrastructure in the coming 5 years and government’s plan to collaborate with traditional leaders for the implementation of local development plans.
The R23 billion secured for large water infrastructure projects is a positive development prioritising the need for a secure and reliable water supply across the country. The need to resolve the water crisis is significant and should be addressed immediately.
The fundamental reform of our state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and in particular Eskom and Transnet, to ensure their functionality and fulfilment of their social and economic roles, is another plus. Investment in our SOEs can help curb unemployment and bring recognition to young people who are seeking STEM careers. We also welcome the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA) success in returning more than 80% of passenger rail corridors to service and the 200 modern locally produced trains that now service commuters.
The government’s commitment to meet carbon reduction commitments at a pace and scale that our country can afford as we reform the energy system and build multilateral partnerships to halt the devastating global impact of climate change, is commendable. We trust that the pledged 13 billion US dollars will ensure a Just Transition commitment plan for all workers and citizens.
Lastly, we welcome the programme looking into the protection of workers’ rights, improving working conditions and ensuring that women and men receive equal pay for work of equal value.
The negatives:
Ramaphosa could have done better regarding the more than 28 million unemployed and vulnerable people who depend on social grants. Although the Social Relief Distress grant is essential to combat poverty, the country spending around 60% of the national budget on the social wage is clearly unsustainable.
UASA questions the so-called “graduate recruitment scheme”. What happened to the previously promised 2 million jobs and presidential youth employment programmes? Introducing new programmes with pretty words and a nice ring to them will not make the substantial unemployment disappear. South Africans deserve much more than a president who gets away with empty promises time and again.
Operation Shanela, the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) bold and decisive approach in dealing with crime in the country, is nothing new. We still live with unacceptable high crime rates and no relief in sight. What happened to tightening and increasing the security cluster to eliminate rampant crime?
What difference will the new world-class digital forensics lab make to support investigation of complex corruption and financial crimes? What will this new lab do for our people that the current structures and law enforcements have failed to do? Why are we introducing fancy solutions draining taxpayers’ funds instead of delivering a return on the investment?
We heard Ramaphosa’s words before, but never see worthwhile results regarding promised reforms, plans and implementations.
UASA would have welcomed a clear outline regarding the safe return of our soldiers deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but alas. We honour the 14 fallen soldiers who died in the DRC and acknowledge Ramaphosa’s order to fly the South African flags at half-mast in their honour.
Again, we urge Ramaphosa and his government to put in the work to put South Africans first and political parties second.
For further enquiries or to set up a personal interview, contact Abigail Moyo at 065 1700 162.