In many ways, President Cyril Ramaphosa approached the state of the nation address armed with pearls of wisdom on how to resolve many, seemingly intractable challenges facing the nation. Yet many questions were left unanswered.
He seemed to wax lyrical about the “bully” in Washington by correctly characterising the changing world order. “It is a world of both interdependence and competition, of cooperation and conflict. It is a multipolar world in which new countries are emerging to play a greater role in global affairs. We are seeing intensifying competition over issues such as trade, technology and influence in global institutions. There are global fundamental shifts that affect every aspect of human life.”
Decoded, this means the new lords in the White House have changed the tone and texture of international relations, adopting a more transactional approach to diplomacy. But many wanted to hear him say the magical words — “we are not daunted. We will not be deterred. We are … a resilient people and we will not be bullied.”
This is a correct approach. It is a sentiment that says even if we are a developing country with many challenges, we are imbued with a priceless dignity and self-respect that’s not for sale in this transactional diplomatic world.
The other elephant in the room was the deaths of 14 soldiers in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Here, too, Ramaphosa’s choice of words were, on the surface, spot on. He reminded us that these were soldiers who ventured into the belly of the beast seeking nothing more than the silencing of the continent’s guns. They sought neither gold nor silver for themselves. Theirs was to extend the peace we enjoy here in South Africa to the people of the eastern Congo. What could be more worthy? Yet Ramaphosa failed to clarify to grieving families and the nation seeking answers when the fallen heroes would be returned home for funerals. Is there a stand-off about the bodies?
Ramaphosa also revisited an old theme about turning around municipalities so they provide the quality service delivery we all deserve. He reminded us that sewage is overflowing, waste is not being picked up and maintenance of infrastructure is not done simply because there was no technical capacity in councils. He noted the municipal white paper will be updated to lay out what a modern municipality should look like.
Yet ours is not a policy problem. It’s not the beautiful descriptions in documents that often gather dust in municipalities. The question he did not intend to answer is when these modern municipalities will manifest. Challenges with leadership and execution in municipalities were first raised over 20 years ago by former president Thabo Mbeki, who assigned leaders including Amos Masondo and Father Simangaliso Mkhatshwa to strategic metros.
One of the biggest challenges facing the country is unemployment, which gnaws away at people’s dignity. Ramaphosa mentioned key and strategic projects to help kick the economy, which he expects to hit the 3% growth rate in the medium term, into motion. These include the R940bn in infrastructure funding over three years and R20bn transformation funding to help include women, youth and disabled.
The construction of the tallest bridge in Africa, between Port Alfred and Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape, is a positive development to be welcomed, just as the Polihali Dam in Lesotho that will feed 419m cubic metres of water a year from the Lesotho highlands into the Vaal River system, which provides water to several provinces are great initiatives.
What is missing is a coherent programme that will consistently deliver jobs in ways that reduce unemployment in the country. A programme here and there is good for soundbites, but how do we move the needle in ways that leave a meaningful legacy, Mr President? That is what was missing. Just as it is not enough to say the minister of police has been instructed to reduce gun-related violence and violence against women. Why now? Was he waiting for the instruction all this time? Further, reduce these to what tolerable level by this time next year? It is what was not said that is troubling.
Ramaphosa said the Independent Directorate unit in the National Prosecuting Authority will be capacitated to investigate state capture. Yet he has not explained how he continues to sit in cabinet with Thembi Simelane, who has not explained why she benefited from VBS Bank. Or why Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who prosecutors have confirmed faces prosecution over fraud, walks the hallowed halls of the Union Buildings as minister in the presidency unencumbered by her malfeasance.
It's one thing to state a commitment to fighting corruption. Actions, though, are often louder. Words indeed matter. They give us hope. Yet words depend on actions to assume an even greater meaning and believability. Ramaphosa spoke, it is what he does now that will matter more.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.