A year of action

Faster government delivery and the need to improve growth and job creation, these will be the focus of President Jacob Zuma and his team as he delivered his second State of the Nation address under the watchful eye of former president Nelson Mandela.

Zuma’s speech which was moved to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the release of Mandela said that "This year, 2010, shall be a year of action."

He said government planned to build labour absorbing industries and promised to keep in place economic rescue measures implemented last year, because the pace of South Africa’s economic recovery from the country’s recession was an unknown factor.

“Economic activity is rising in South Africa, and we expect growth going forward. It is too soon, though, to be certain of the pace of recovery”

Zuma revisited his promise create half a million job opportunities and said that government had not failed to make good on its promise.

"We are pleased to announce that by the end of December, we had created more than 480 000 public works job opportunities, which is 97% of the target we had set."

He highlighted that this was not employment in the “mainstream economy" but temporary positions meant to provide the unemployed with income, experience and training opportunities.

Zuma paid tribute Mandela, who attended the speech, as well as PW Botha and FW De Klerk.

"On this special day, we must also acknowledge the contribution of those within the leadership of the National Party, who eventually realised that apartheid had no future."