Opposition parties criticize Sona de Ramaphosa for being out of touch and out of ideas

JOHANNESBURG – Opposition parties have described President Cyril Ramaphosa’s fifth state of the nation speech (Sona) as disconnected and out of ideas.

Ramaphosa presented little in the way of new plans in his speech, focusing rather on reporting on progress.
For some of the country’s major political parties, the president’s speech could well have been delivered in 2020, or even 2019.

* FULL SPEECH: President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address

John Steenhuisen of the Democratic Alliance (DA) characterized Ramaphosa’s speech as “the good, the bad and the ugly”; praising him for continuing with COVID-19 relief grants, but opposed economic reforms that had not yet reached Parliament.

“When are they going to see the light of day? You can talk about reforms; you can keep them on a sheet of paper in a drawer in the Union Buildings. Until he takes them to the floor of Parliament, he will not approve them ”.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) described the speech as insane, arguing that the president was doing the same thing over and over again while waiting for different results.

Mkhulekwa Hlengwa of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) agrees that there was little new or inspiring in Ramaphosa’s speech, although the party welcomed some of the interventions.

“We have heard these things before. It doesn’t feel like a pitch for a president who was campaigning for reelection while in office. “

The African National Congress (ANC) has defended Sona, saying that President Ramaphosa focused on key issues and gave an account of plans established the previous year.

WATCH: Job Creation and Fighting Corruption: Highlights from Sona 2021

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