Reactions to the State of the Nation Address

DA Leader Helen Zille addressing the media at Parliament

By the Newsteam
11 February 2011

In reaction to the address, some opposition parties have expressed concern that it indicated that South Africa has shifted closer to nationalising its mines.

Many political and independent groups supported the president’s proposal on job creation but had doubts on it’s implementation.

Democratic Alliance president Helen Zille says if this is a youth wage subsidy they will welcome it and the tax incentives in the manufacturing industry, they believe it is very important.

Zille said there are some interventions that the DA will support.

Meanwhile, ANCYL president Julius Malema says the majority of unemployed people in the country are the youth.

Malema says they don’t want just “ijob yi-job” but proper jobs for the youth.

Cosatu secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi praised the proposed merger of Khula and the South African Micro-Apex Fund, as well as the Industrial Development Corporation's small business funding initiatives into a single small business funding body.

Vavi also welcomed the tax breaks aimed at manufacturing businesses.

But he questioned the state's ability to deliver on its promise to create jobs, if it did not boost efficiency and its present capacity.