Chaos erupts at SONA’s speech before Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his speech.
Gallo Images/Jeffrey Abrahams
- Opposition parties were not impressed by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s SONA.
- Among the issues that irritated the opposition was the appointment of an electricity minister in the Presidency.
- Many have accused Ramaphosa of creating a super presidency and failing to hold underperforming ministers to account.
Opposition parties have accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of using his State of the Nation (SONA) address to centralize power in his office.
Amid a chaotic start to proceedings, Ramaphosa outlined his administration’s plan to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges.
Ramaphosa announced a series of new measures to combat the country’s “existential” energy crisis, including the declaration of a state of disaster, a new electricity minister, and loans and incentives to steer South Africans towards solar power.
In response to SONA, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said the irony was that the state of disaster was a crisis entirely created by the ANC.
“The summoning of a creation of one’s own [state of disaster] and the broader events at SONA tonight, particularly the lawlessness wrought by the EFF, is yet another reminder of how the political establishment and Parliament have failed the people of South Africa. A new breed of ethical political leadership, committed to public service, is needed to put the needs of all citizens first,” he said.
READ | Declared a state of catastrophe to avoid ‘total blackout’
But International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor said Ramaphosa’s plan to address cargo reduction should be commended.
“The remedies that the President referred to are important steps for South Africa to take. The fact that he recognized that Eskom will continue to be a player, given its immense size, is very important. But that monopoly is being cut and we will have a more rational,” he said.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said the country simply could not survive another round of looting and irrationality that we saw during the Covid-19 pandemic.
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his speech during SONA 2023 at Cape Town City Hall.
AFP ESA ALEXANDER / POOL / AFP
“Last time, the lack of accountability under a national state of disaster allowed Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who is once again in charge of managing the ANC-caused load disconnect disaster, to issue regulations that are meaningless and economically destructive practices that were completely unconnected to Covid, including a ban on everything from cooked chicken to open-toed shoes to alcohol,” he said.
ANC spokesman Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said SONA tackled the most immediate tasks, which included drastically reducing the severity of the cargo loss and its impact.
“This will require a massive, effective and sustainable skills revolution, strengthening the link between the skills we develop and the skills the workplace needs.
“SONA also strengthened the determination to lift our people out of poverty and unemployment through social wages, including public employment programs and social grants, which have proven to be a lifeline for our people,” he said.
Following his removal from the chamber, EFF leader Julius Malema said the entire state had collapsed for the protection of one man.
“Parliament has degenerated, the executive has degenerated, the judiciary has degenerated, for the protection of one man,” he said.
