The nation is falling apart, and Cyril Ramaphosa must take the blame for spiralling unemployment and plunging South Africa into darkness.
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This is according to DA leader John Steenhuisen, who, in the build-up to SONA23, delivered his “True State of the Nation Address” in Cape Town on Wednesday.
The opposition leader said that South Africa’s decline was brought about by the government’s failure to condemn the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which had contributed to the country’s food and fuel crises.
“If Thursday is truly about the State of our Nation, look past the smoke and mirrors and cherry-picked stats, and take in the bigger picture of the full five years of this administration,” said Steenhuisen.
“That’s how you will see whether we’re making any progress. Look at the country’s trajectory on crime, unemployment, infrastructure maintenance and investment. Look at the trajectory on capital and skills flight, load shedding and poverty. See where we now stand and which we’re heading.”
He said that the reality for ordinary South Africans was that life had progressively become harder over the past five years.
“Increases in the cost of living have far outstripped earnings; most certainly for those trying to survive on grants, which is now almost 50% of the population.”
“That’s the 18.4 million South Africans on social grant, plus the 10.5 million recipients of the Covid-19 social relief of distress grant. For these people, the sharp rise in the price of a basic basket of goods plus multiple above-inflation fuel price increases and electricity tariff hikes, have made life unbearably hard.”
He added that the situation would worsen this year as high-stage loadshedding is wreaking havoc on the economy, shutting down businesses, and sending even more people to the social grant queue.
Social grant spending this financial year would reach a massive R364 billion – almost 60% of the entire non-interest spending over the next three years.
“Now factor in the shrinking tax base and exodus of capital, businesses and skills … we are headed for an unprecedented crisis if we don’t drastically change course.”
“Last July’s riots will seem like a tame dress rehearsal the day the government can no longer pay social grants. We cannot risk such a situation,” he said.
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Picture: Cape{town}Etc Library