Opening of Parliament Address needs to be about an implementation plan for the people
The Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) for the 7th Democratic Administration cannot be like previous OPAs or State of the Nation Addresses, which are generally punctuated by jargon, flowery language and pie in the sky proposals.
Marking 30-years of Constitutional Democracy and a new era of governance under a Government of National Unity (GNU) it is clear that the people of South Africa expect their elected representatives to act differently to advance their most basic interests and needs in the pursuit of a safe, prosperous, equal and united South Africa.
Our plea is that President Cyril Ramaphosa table a vision for the next five-years, underscored by getting the basics right so that all 60-million South Africa can live happy and dignified lives.
RISE Mzansi, therefore, expects that President prioritises the following areas:
Crime, corruption and accountability
The President needs to fully support the work of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster by charging the Minister of Police to focus on halving the murder rate; removing illegal guns from the streets; professionalising the SAPS; addressing the root causes of crime and bolstering the Detective, Visible Policing, and Crime Intelligence Divisions.
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development needs to digitise the courts and case management system; and focus on increasing prosecutions.
The Anti-Corruption Task Team (ACTT) working with Parliament, particularly Committees like the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) must ensure that the fight against corruption is an ‘all of government’ practice. Moreover, the Leader of Government Business, in this case, the Deputy President, must be committed to ensuring that the Members of the National Executive attend the necessary sittings of the House and timeously respond to written questions; and provide full responses to oral questions. The President himself must also submit himself to the House as provided for in the Rules.
Hunger
At least 20-million South Africans go to bed hungry every day or are food insecure. This results in stunting, an inability to properly engage in school and work, and seeking opportunities, as well as mental and emotional trauma.
The Departments of Agriculture, Land and Rural Development, and Social Development and Education, among others; as well as Local and Provincial Governments, are critical role players in the endeavour to end hunger and food insecurity.
Jobs and the economy
The National Development Plan sets the country on a path of 5,4% economic growth in order to create sustainable jobs. This cannot be achieved without energy; water and sanitation; the affordable movement of goods, services and people; and access to cheap data and WIFI.
Therefore, the President must, in his plan, outline and commit to lasting plans for Eskom, Transnet, PRASA, water boards and municipalities, and work with network providers to lower the cost of data and their expansion of the network.
Importantly, government needs to move away from the philosophy that government creates jobs. Government must lay the foundations on which the private sector, including small businesses, can operate and grow so as to create jobs.
Climate crisis
The climate crisis and its effects rear their ugly head more frequently with harsh and irregular weather patterns, affecting lives and livelihoods, as we are currently experiencing in parts of the country throughout the year. The Climate Change Response Fund needs to be put to work. This includes $6,5-billion pledged by France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the European Union, which sits untouched. RISE Mzansi contends that the bulk of these funds must be in the form of grants.
RISE Mzansi believes that it is possible to achieve development and economic growth in an environmentally sustainable way.
The time for plans about plans needs to come to an end. The people of South Africa want implementation and for us to work for them; and as their duly elected representatives, we must do exactly that.
ENDS…