While politicians welcomed the tone of President Cyril Ramaphosa's first State of the Nation address, on the big bold plans announced many said the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Ramaphosa committed government to some big projects that will require a huge amount of capital - from fast-tracking a national health insurance scheme to his predecessor Jacob Zuma's announcement on free higher education being provided to a greater cohort of students.
According to Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane, the new president could have been bolder.
"Some of the programmes was on president Zuma’s administration. What South Africa wants is action on tax and how we use tax," said Maimane.
"I really look forward to reforms that will come through."
Maimane, however, said none of Ramaphosa's plan would mean anything if he keeps Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba in his post.
"Malusi started state capture and he must be removed," Maimane said.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema agreed, saying: "He needs to fire the minister of finance. We cannot have Malusi Gigaba the delinquent."
Malema said news that a job summit was to be called was not a plan, but he wanted to give Ramaphosa "the benefit of the doubt as he is new and was just sworn in".
The African National Congress, the country's ruling party, welcomed Ramaphosa's speech, saying he was staying true to the party's resolutions adopted at its elective conference in December last year.
ANC chairman Gwede Mantashe defended Ramaphosa's announcement to review the configuration and size of national government departments, saying it was not a threat to put officials on notice to vacate their positions, but a mechanism of making sure that government works efficiently and delivers.
"It is not putting people on notice. It is to make the state efficient and effective, That's the key word that came from the President.
"We are not going to have many departments, we are going to reduce the number and consolidate the work. But the implementation and execution will be more efficient and effective," Mantashe said.
He would not be drawn on Gigaba's future. Gigaba himself, however, remained unsure whethere he would still have his job.
"I serve at the pleasure of the president. It's the president that will decide what will happen.... all I can say is, see you again somewhere," said Gigaba.
One of Gigaba's predecessors in the finance post, Trevor Manuel, a friend and ally of Ramaphosa, said it was important that those charged with implementation roll up their sleeves.
"think its safe to say that there is a captain in charge of this ship. We are all in this together in this as South Africans and it's all hands on deck," said Manuel.
Other smaller parties said Ramaphosa would not be judged on the plans he announced, but on whether he could implement them.
"We must caution him as we have heard the promises before," United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said.
Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald said Ramaphosa came out strongly against corruption, but needed to ensure this was not just talk.
"They must ensure that the political heads that gave the instructions for that [corruption] is prosecuted," said Groenewald.
Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi welcomed the focus on renewal and hope.
"I think that I have heard many state-of-the-nation speeches, but his style of delivering and unpacking was very good and made us understand. Our country is in dire straits. It is easy to make promises but I think that he means what he says."
Luthando Mbinda, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania MP, said he would hold Ramaphosa accountable.
"We will make sure he accounts to Parliament and tells us about the promises he made here, but his speech was very good and I think that it came from the bottom of his heart..."
The fact that Ramaphosa did not put timelines to some of his plans did not sit well with National Freedom Party MP Nhlanhla Khubisa.
"There should be timeframes on every point he made and on higher education being free."
African News Agency (ANA)