Political parties react to #SONA2016

Cape Town-160211-Scenes from inside the National Assembly during the State of the Nation Address. DA leader Mmusi Maimane makes his point. Picture Jeffrey Abrahams

Cape Town-160211-Scenes from inside the National Assembly during the State of the Nation Address. DA leader Mmusi Maimane makes his point. Picture Jeffrey Abrahams

Published Feb 11, 2016

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Parliament - Political parties offered mainly negative reactions to President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address on Thursday night, citing what they said were shortcomings.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane has criticised Zuma’s speech, saying it demonstrated that he could “not be trusted” to grow the ailing economy, create jobs and fight corruption.

He accused the president of using the 2008 economic crisis as a scapegoat for the country’s poor economic performance, saying he failed to announced fresh and innovative plans to create jobs for the 8, 3 million unemployed South Africans.

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“Overall, he is repeating the old plans, nothing new, and no hope for South Africans,” added Maimane.

UDM MP Nqabayomzi Kwankwa agreed with Maimane saying Zuma had no new ideas to grow the economy, adding: “That’s why we have been advocating for an economic indaba. The ANC is running out of plans.”

IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said Zuma’s speech was frank and commended him for not trying to “hide” the fact that the situation is “dire in our country”.

Mohale Ralebitso of the Black Business Council said he was encouraged by Zuma's speech particularly on the commitments made on tourism which has been one of the fastest growth areas.

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“The change of the visa regulations is very encouraging, the support offered on the SMMEs but we still have a lot to do in that sector which provides an opportunity to diversify the economy," he said.

SACP 2nd secretary Solly Mapaila said the party appreciated that Zuma had addressed all the critical issues facing the country at the moment.

He said all major interventions were encouraging particularly the commitment to alleviate drought and the help offered to University students.

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said: "The president spend a lot of time on the fundamental issues that need to be addressed.

"More importantly he spend time addressing the question of investing in agriculture and accelerating land redistribution.

"Many issues which we have raised have received a lot of attention particularly the importance of agriculture and drought relief efforts."

Mantashe said Zuma spent a lot of time on the economy because it was about addressing the challenges of poverty and unemployment.

"This is not about doing damage control, we are doing what the people of South Africa have mandated us to do.

"Those parties who were disrupting the SONA have nothing else to debate. If they come to the SONA debate they won’t even raise the issues we were dealing with today," said Mantashe.

Cope leader Mosioua Lekota, who had earlier walked out of the House, said they attended the SONA because they had to abide by rules as MPs.

"But we had to state our view publicly that Zuma has admitted in court to violating his oath of office.

"He has no legitimacy to address Parliament," said Lekota

ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe said the president had failed to give a clear plan on how small businesses would be helped to survive tough economic climate.

"In the townships spaza shops are owned by foreign traders, we have heard nothing about how they will be helped to survive.

"This will lead to a crisis," said Meshoe.

Mapaila said the party was glad Zuma emphasised the dialogue happening with organised labour about the new tax laws.

Freedom Front Plus leader the president looked and sounded subdued because "the gas was out of the bottle".

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said she was saddened by Zuma's State of the Nation Address because it didn't put any focus on chapter 9 institutions and good governance.

"I think the speech touched on a lot of key issues but me as a public protector would have expected him to touch on governance and how institutions like ours can work together," said Madonsela

She added that she would have liked the president to also touch on the implementation of reports from the auditor general.

"I'm not an analyst so I can't say if president Zuma have South Africans the answers they were looking for but I thought he dealt with a lot of key issues," she said

Political Bureau

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