African National Congress Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu says President Cyril Ramaphosa’s SONA content will be influenced by some of the resolutions adopted by the party at its 54th National Conference in December 2017.
Ramaphosa will deliver his maiden State of the Nation Address this evening.
Mthembu says the ANC in parliament want the new president to speak on issues which include getting growing the economy to get the country out of junk status and job creation.
“That conference said we must fight corruption wherever it rears its ugly head. The ball is now in his hand now that he is the president of the Republic. Secondly that conference said we must also ensure that land is returned to our people.”
But how does Mthembu described the turn of event this week, which saw the resignation of the former state president Jacob Zuma and the elevation of Ramaphosa.
“It’s only in this country where you have a NEC of the governing party taking a decision on Tuesday morning, that the president is recalled. On Wednesday night the president resigns. On Thursday a new president is sworn in; on Friday evening, the new President delivers the State of the Nation Address without any mishaps. We can only thank the people of South Africa that the events that happened this week.”
Meanwhile the IFP wants the President to shed some light on the nuclear deal. IFP Chief Whip Narend Singh has various expectations when President Ramaphosa delivers his maiden speech tonight.
“Firstly the State of the Nation is measured by how the economy is doing. And lately we know that our economy is not doing well. Growth is at an all-time low. There are incompetent ministers. There is a threat of the nuclear deal that is hanging over us and we need the new president to tell us what is going to happen.”
“We need him to tell us how students are going to be held tertiary level because there was talk of free tertiary education. He needs to unpack that moving forward.”
While the Economic Freedom Fighters indicated that it will be a peaceful SONA, the party says it doesn’t recognise the new President.
EFF Leader Julius Malema told the media on Thursday that Ramaphosa won’t bring any change.
“He is simply going to replace Zuma’s corruption; the recent appointment of Sifiso Dabengo is a worrying sign that Ramaphosa will replace Zuma’s thieves with his own thieves.”
About 1200 guest have been invited in the National Assembly.
Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo says: “Various categories have been invited and those categories will include for instance the religious sector for instance under that category we have invited the judicial Muslim body, worship Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane, we will also have representative of Chapter Nine institutions.”
“We will also have business sector; the former presiding officers, Mr Max Sisulu and Mninwa Mahlangu who is currently the ambassador of the United States.”
Earlier today, Ramaphosa was on the precinct of Parliament. Speaking to the media on the steps of the National Assembly he said he was upbeat about the future.
The President is expected to deliver his speech at seven tonight.
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