By: Natasha Archary
Thirty years into democracy and President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa is still rebuilding because the past 5-years has been a time of recovery.
Ramaphosa was addressing the country during the 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA), giving South Africans a review of the past 5-years with him at the helm.
Despite the immediate challenges of unemployment, loadshedding, crime, corruption and an unstable economy, Ramaphosa was re-elected President of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in December 2022.
This shows that the ANC is confident Ramaphosa will win the elections which take place this year, and reign for a second term in office.
Listen to the conversation on Point of View:
Immediate challenges facing South Africa
A few of the immediate challenges affecting the country include:
- unemployment and job creation
- State Capture
- poor economic performance
- debilitating electricity crisis
- crime
- poverty
“One of the overriding challenges this administration had to deal with when it took office was State Capture and corruption.
Our first priority was to put a decisive stop to state capture, to dismantle the criminal networks within the state and to ensure that perpetrators faced justice.
We had to do that so that we could restore our institutions and rebuild our economy. We appointed capable people with integrity to head our law enforcement agencies, government departments, security services and state companies, often through an independent and transparent processes.
The credibility and efficiency of a number of institutions like the South African Revenue Service (SARS) have been restored and their performance improved.
We set up the Investigating Directorate as a specialised and multidisciplinary unit within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to investigate corruption and other serious crimes.
Great progress has been made in bringing those responsible for State Capture to justice.
More than 200 accused persons are being prosecuted. More are under investigation.”
President Ramaphosa says South Africa is still rebuilding 30-years into democracy because the effects of State Capture is still affecting the country’s growth
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