President Cyril Ramaphosa has hit back at opposition parties in Parliament following criticism on his budget vote on Wednesday. Among others, Ramaphosa was accused of flip flopping on the land expropriation issue and appeasing factions by not reducing the cabinet.
Land reform, economic growth and race relations are the main points Ramaphosa responded to in the National Assembly. He says the ruling party has taken a position on land reform at its 54th conference that will guide government.
“ It’s for this reason this government is undertaking measures to accelerate redistribution of land, extension of security of tenure, provision of agri support and redress of spatial inequality. People must own property, move closer to the economic hub.”
He also spoke out on race relations, saying that barriers such as inequality and poverty are preventing unity and reconciliation. “Some of these barriers exist and some exist in the minds of people. They exist in minds of who sing Die Stem, display the old flag, these are not symbols of Afrikaner identity, they are symbols of discrimination, oppression, misery and wanting to go back to past.”
A few Members of Parliament criticised Ramaphosa for not reducing the size of government as soon as he became president. “The reconfiguration is far greater, go to heart of capacity of country to meet developmental needs. We need to address structure, not just the national department, all spheres, public institutions, efficiency, effectiveness.”
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