PODCAST | Following the president: Africa calls for Ramaphosa to take charge

In this week's Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast, the Sunday Times politics team follows President Cyril Ramaphosa from the African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia to the state of the nation (Sona) address in Cape Town.

While shadowing the president, a theme has emerged as top dignitaries and political players call for the president to take charge.

LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY:

In the first segment of the podcast, we hear from DA leader John Steenhuisen who has  criticised the EFF’s plan to disrupt President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address.

Steenhuisen said his party disagreed with the EFF’s plan. He said Ramaphosa should have an opportunity to talk about his plans and vision and for opposition parties to critique him.

“I don’t think the disruptions advance the people’s business, the people’s agenda, one little bit. I think they serve to undermine parliament and parliament’s ability,” said Steenhuisen.

He said over the last few weeks, when he was doing his tour to get ordinary citizens’ views on the state of the nation, people told him that politicians debate things and behave in a way that is important to them.

“I don’t think these disruptions help,” he said.

In segment two, we follow the president to the AU summit in Ethiopia, where SA's top trade negotiator has emerged as the new secretary-general of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) after a bitter political fight with Nigeria.

For more episodes, click here.

Chat to us on Twitter at #STPoliticsWeekly

E-mail us at MullerP@arena.africa

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