President Cyril Ramaphosa has once again emphasised the central role of the Public Sector in creating jobs but also says it is the private sector that creates by far the most employment.
Replying to the debate on the State of the Nation Address (SONA), Ramaphosa also responded to claims that he is creating a bloated bureaucracy in his office.
Ramaphosa told members of Parliament (MPs) that government is doing everything to ensure that the private sector does not face unnecessary impediments. He says the reason the unit is in his office is because red tape is not only confined to a single department as well as coordinating several job stimulus programmes.
COVID-19
Ramaphosa says the measures government has undertaken following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic have helped preserve the lives and livelihoods of South Africans, especially the poorest section.
“We introduced an unprecedented social and econ relief package which amounted to 10% of our GDP. We confronted the COVID-19 pandemic with great strength commitment to save the people and the businesses in our country.”
Fighting corruption
The President says that government has made significant strides in the fight against corruption. He has however, dismissed accusations that he has not done enough to prosecute those accused of corruption.
Prosecuting people, he says, is not the job of the President. He emphasised however, that all has been done to strengthen the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to enable it to do its work.
Ramphosa also spoke about the importance of keeping the faith in the face of hardship.
“At times it may seem that the path is too long. And it may also seem like it is not achieving much. We have a responsibility to first and foremost to those who are poor.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa replies to SONA debate:
