President Cyril Ramaphosa has started delivering his first state of the nation address this Friday evening, acknowledging EFF leader Julius Malema amongst the most honoured guests.
Even though the EFF has in the recent past disrupted the addresses of former President Jacob Zuma (who resigned this week), the EFF had earlier been reported as saying they would not object to Ramaphosa’s address – despite the fact that the EFF did not support the election of Ramaphosa as President.
“In a year of change, in a year of renewal, in a year of hope…” Ramaphosa outlined why it was so necessary to commemorate heroes like Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu – and said a “new dawn” had arrived inspired not only by the memory of Mandela but also by the changes happening in our country.
He said South Africans should reaffirm the belief that South Africa belongs to all who live in it…. and strongly criticised what he termed theft and plunder of resources.
Ramaphosa said even through South Africans are still divided by history, gender and a range of other inequalities – South Africans have been given the responsibility to build a new nation… despite difficult conditions.
