BuaNews (Tshwane)
3 June 2009
President Jacob Zuma has called on South Africans to unite in a partnership, working together with government to do more to realise the vision of a better and more prosperous nation.
"Fellow South Africans, working together we can do more to realise our common vision of a better and more prosperous nation.
"This is the partnership we are calling for," President Zuma told a joint sitting of parliament when delivering his maiden State of the Nation Address on Wednesday morning.
Referring to the turnout at the recent General Elections, the President said, in their overwhelming numbers, South Africans confirmed that working together "we can do more to fight poverty and build a better life for all".
He said that while the South African economy had not been affected to the extent that a number of other countries had been, its effects were now being clearly seen and the country was in a recession.
"It is more important now than ever that we work in partnership on a common programme to respond to this crisis."
He said government's starting point in the response to the international economic crisis was the framework concluded by government, labour and business in February this year.
The President was firm that since the implementation of government's programme would take place in the face of the economic downturn, the administration would have to act prudently.
" ... No wastage, no rollovers of funds - every cent must be spent wisely and fruitfully. We must cut our cloth according to our size," the President said.
He also told South Africans that in the era of renewal, government will become more interactive.
And to this end, work has begun on the establishment of a public liaison capacity in the Presidency.
In addition to receiving letters and emails from the public, government, he said, would establish a hotline for easier access.
"Staff will handle each public inquiry as if it was the only one, following it through all the channels until it receives the attention it deserves."
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2009 BuaNews. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
This commitment was made by the SA government almost 3 years ago, in the National Strategic Plan 2007 - 2011. For the past 3 years we have applauded on the NSP and the goals that have been set, action as usual has been slow. It is an outrage to use something that took years of consulting and commitment from different stakeholder, some of whom have been ungracefully axed from government and don't even feature in this new cabinet, and use it as a draw card for the way forward. If that is all the president is promising, then it's nothing new. I just hope the commitment has been to actually move forward and make the goals of the NSP more realistic.
It is a familiar trend in Africa, promises, promises, promises. Bring back the death penalty and get rid of your corrupt police force that will help. Heaven help the visitors when they come for the World Cup, rape,theft and murder will abound. We can see the gangs lining up to steal the loot that these unfortunates wll offer. What a joke. And Zuma please tell us about your promises for sorting out your thug, murdering and kleptomaniac neighbour called Robert Mugabe. To create jobs all you have to do is remove that scum and send the Zimabaweans back to Zimbabwe and you will create more than 500 000 jobs.
See all comments (8).
Active Discussions: All Eyes on President Zuma