President Jacob Zuma believes that South Africa is doing well, that its fundamentals are in place, that its institutions are strong and that all aspects of the state are functioning effectively.
Delivering his budget vote speech of almost an hour in parliament yesterday, Zuma repeatedly said the country had a good story to tell – a statement cheered loudly from the ANC and derided noisily from opposition benches.
But the ghost of the Marikana massacre haunted Zuma’s generally optimistic speech, with EEF MPs demanding the immediate release of the Farlam report into the massacre.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane agreed, saying any delay in the release of the report cheapened the lives of black workers.
Unmoved, Zuma confirmed he had received both the Farlam report and a briefing by the judge himself.
Nevertheless, the president had decided only to release the report at the end of June, claiming he had to apply his mind to it.
Moving to more general matters, Zuma announced he would appoint a new national planning committee shortly, to monitor progress on the national development plan.
The first national planning commission was dissolved after it wrote the plan, which provided a blueprint of what South Africa should look like by 2030.
In a speech with a strongly Africanist tone, Zuma quoted the father of Pan-Africanism, Kwame Nkrumah, in saying “independence is only the prelude to a new and more involved struggle, for the right to conduct our own economic and social affairs; to construct our society according to our aspirations, unhampered by crushing and humiliating neo-colonialist controls and interference’’.
He used Nkrumah's vision to angle a very strong message against xenophobia and violence.
“As we continue to transform and build our country, we have to go beyond bricks and mortar. We have to look at the human side of reconstruction and development as well and build the soul of our nation,” said Zuma.
“We need to work together to build stronger and united communities, which uphold the values of respect for one another, tolerance and respect for the rights of others especially the right to life and dignity.
“The brutality of the apartheid system which introduced a culture of violence may have eroded some of these values amongst some of our people.
“The horrific incidents of Marikana, the recent attacks on foreign and African nationals in our country, some violent protests as well as incidents of violent crime, indicate that something is wrong in some sections of our society,” claimed the president, asking each South African to do his or her own serious soul-searching.
“With regards to the attacks on foreign and African nationals, we have directed law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay.
“We need to send a strong message that our country will not tolerate such behaviour, against both foreign nationals and our citizens.
“The South African people have demonstrated to the world that they support peace, friendship and solidarity with their brothers and sisters from the continent,” said Zuma.
“We will continue to live together in peace and harmony,” said the president.
Zuma placed specific emphasis on the fight against drug trafficking, drug abuse and the sale of drugs, promising to flex the full muscle of the state against the scourge.
In a more positive turn, he pointed out that several indications existed that South Africa was moving in the right direction.
This includes life expectancy, which has grown from 51 years to 62 years from 2005 to 2013. South Africa’s banking and auditing systems are also among the best in the world.
Infrastructure and property rights are other aspects in which respected international indices show South Africa to be strong, Zuma pointed out.
Zuma believes SA on right track
Delivering his budget vote speech of almost an hour in parliament yesterday, Zuma repeatedly said the country had a good story to tell – a statement cheered loudly from the ANC and derided noisily from opposition benches.
But the ghost of the Marikana massacre haunted Zuma’s generally optimistic speech, with EEF MPs demanding the immediate release of the Farlam report into the massacre.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane agreed, saying any delay in the release of the report cheapened the lives of black workers.
Unmoved, Zuma confirmed he had received both the Farlam report and a briefing by the judge himself.
Nevertheless, the president had decided only to release the report at the end of June, claiming he had to apply his mind to it.
Moving to more general matters, Zuma announced he would appoint a new national planning committee shortly, to monitor progress on the national development plan.
The first national planning commission was dissolved after it wrote the plan, which provided a blueprint of what South Africa should look like by 2030.
In a speech with a strongly Africanist tone, Zuma quoted the father of Pan-Africanism, Kwame Nkrumah, in saying “independence is only the prelude to a new and more involved struggle, for the right to conduct our own economic and social affairs; to construct our society according to our aspirations, unhampered by crushing and humiliating neo-colonialist controls and interference’’.
He used Nkrumah's vision to angle a very strong message against xenophobia and violence.
“As we continue to transform and build our country, we have to go beyond bricks and mortar. We have to look at the human side of reconstruction and development as well and build the soul of our nation,” said Zuma.
“We need to work together to build stronger and united communities, which uphold the values of respect for one another, tolerance and respect for the rights of others especially the right to life and dignity.
“The brutality of the apartheid system which introduced a culture of violence may have eroded some of these values amongst some of our people.
“The horrific incidents of Marikana, the recent attacks on foreign and African nationals in our country, some violent protests as well as incidents of violent crime, indicate that something is wrong in some sections of our society,” claimed the president, asking each South African to do his or her own serious soul-searching.
“With regards to the attacks on foreign and African nationals, we have directed law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay.
“We need to send a strong message that our country will not tolerate such behaviour, against both foreign nationals and our citizens.
“The South African people have demonstrated to the world that they support peace, friendship and solidarity with their brothers and sisters from the continent,” said Zuma.
“We will continue to live together in peace and harmony,” said the president.
Zuma placed specific emphasis on the fight against drug trafficking, drug abuse and the sale of drugs, promising to flex the full muscle of the state against the scourge.
In a more positive turn, he pointed out that several indications existed that South Africa was moving in the right direction.
This includes life expectancy, which has grown from 51 years to 62 years from 2005 to 2013. South Africa’s banking and auditing systems are also among the best in the world.
Infrastructure and property rights are other aspects in which respected international indices show South Africa to be strong, Zuma pointed out.
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