Opposition parties react to the State of the Nation Address

By Khanyisa Tabata
12 February 2010

Last night marked the second State of the Nation Address by President Jacob Zuma.

The speech coincided with the 20th anniversary of former President Nelson Mandela’s realise from prison twenty years ago.

Zuma outlined the plans and the challenges that the government is facing and possible solutions. During his speech to the nation Zuma said they have created more than 480 000 public works job opportunities, which is 97 percent of the target they have set before to create 500 000 job opportunities.

Congress of the People Parliamentary Leader Mvume Dandala said he was quite surprised by the numbers.

“The President is gloating that they have created 480 000 job opportunities to me that came as a surprise because not so long ago the President himself admitted that they are falling short to the target that they have set for themselves.

“What also came as a surprise to me the issue of rural development, it was mentioned but there was no detailed plan as to how this is going to happen because most of our people living on informal settlement more especially here in Western Cape come from those places that are far from civilisation,” said Mvume Dandala.

African Christian Democratic Party Leader Kenneth Moshoe also expressed his dissatisfaction with the President speech saying it did not have everything it lacked some details on some areas.

“We were expecting the President to outline how they are planning to issues concerning HIV/AIDS after a promising speech in December. We were also disappointed about the number of jobs that have been created, last year the President stood before the nation and said they will create 500 000 job opportunities of which they did not.

“We are very disappointed that fighting corruption was not on top of the presidents list because we all know that civil servants are playing a big role in the economy, by doing something about corrupt people working on the public sector that can go a long way,” said Kenneth Moshoe.

Moshoe also added that the speech was shallow and did not give more details about some plans.

Inkatha Freedom Party Leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said this is speech was more like the speech he gave last year with the same promises.

“Just because he said they are planning to improve the standard of education that does not mean its going to happen because the President himself last year did promise the nation that he will create job opportunities and he didn’t.

“What he also forgot to mention is the number of jobs that have been shared during the course of the last year. last year he did make promises and this year he is making them again, he mentioned the Presidential Hotline that is working properly bet when one gets to call it you hold for forty five minutes to get help what does he say about. He did not mention anything poverty that made me come into a conclusion that fighting poverty is not on the Presidents list,” said Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

The President on his speech said 2010 will be a year for action something that police Minister agrees with him.

“Yes for us it will be a year of continuation of the year for action because we believe in proper planning and action, we will strengthen and heightened the pace from here,” said Nathi Mthethwa.