This year, the opening of Parliament will be on the most romantic day of the yearSt Valentine’s day. But chances are that besides the pomp and ceremony preceeding the speech, it will most likely not be a lovey dovey affair. This year’s State of the Nation Address is widely speculated to focus on the National Development Plan. Not only has it been accepted as an ANC policy document at its national conference last December, but is also the blueprint of government’s development policy. The 21 gun salute and the national anthem marks the imminent start of the official opening of Parliament. The President’s State of the Nation Address sets the tone for how government policy will unfold for the rest of the year.
It sets out government plans and reports back on progress made. The 2013 address is expected to incorporate the highly acclaimed National Development Plan – a vision of how South Africa should look by 2030. The Plan calls for employment to increase from 13 million in 2010 to almost double in about 20 year’s time. It envisions that the quality of education will be upgraded to provide all children with at least two years of preschool educaton, and all children will be able to read and write by Grade three. By 2030, the state should also be providing quality health care. What can almost be seen as government’s Development Bible, the NDP also advocates an active citizenry, prompting South Africans to show leadership at all levels of society. At its last elective conference, the ANC accepted this document. It is against this backdrop that President Jacob Zuma will to deliver his 2013 speech.
opposition parties will be eager to hear what progress had been made over the past twelve months
On Thursday evening, Zuma, is expected to spell out how the NDP’s goals can be achieved. One of the plan’s objectives is to establish a competitive infrastructure framework. During his previous SONA, Zuma announced that billions would be allocated to infrastructure development. The trade union federation, COSATU, General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, welcomed the announcement saying the infrastructure development is good because will create jobs, but caution should be taken that it doesn’t only benefit the business sector. “We should also be very careful to see that the hyenas that will be out there to benefit, it must be carefully monitored that corruption does not creep into the developments.” And once again, opposition parties will be eager to hear what progress had been made over the past twelve months.
Leader of the DA in Parliament, Lindiwe Mazibuko, had her doubts a year ago saying: “There is just not enough money in government’s kitty to accommodate all the developments that are planned, so we will closely monitor how it will be implemented.”
– By Zalene Merrington
