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#Sona2019 expected to clarify government’s agenda - analyst

───   KATLEHO MORAPELA 12:07 Tue, 18 Jun 2019

#Sona2019 expected to clarify government’s agenda - analyst | News Article

Issues relating to lack of economic growth, job creation and the poor state of Eskom, South African Airways and other state-owned enterprises are amongst some of the pressing issues that President Cyril Ramaphosa will have to address in his Sona.


This, as economists and investors have warned that Eskom is the biggest risk to the economy with a debt of more than R420 billion, while SAA needs R21.7 billion to continue operating until 2021 and SABC R3.2 billion to stay afloat. Political analyst, Theo Venter, told OFM News that Ramaphosa will have to address these issues in his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Thursday and speak on policy uncertainty to make room for the much-needed economic development. He says Ramaphosa also needs to address questions relating to corruption as it’s one of the leading factors to how these enterprises got to be in such a financial rut. Venter says expectations are that Ramaphosa should use his Sona to clarify the government’s agenda and what will be implemented moving forward.

He adds that it is imperative that he also speaks on issues that came to the forefront during the May elections. These include divisions within the ANC and differences expressed by members of the national executive on the policy direction that the government should take. This relates to their views on land expropriation without compensation and the South African Reserve Bank, amongst others.

ANC Secretary-General, Ace Magashule, has reportedly said the party’s NEC resolved to expand the mandate of the SA Reserve Bank beyond the traditional function of stabilising the currency while Ramaphosa maintains that such an endeavour would have to be held back for a while, whilst he focuses on restoring investor confidence in the economy and job creation.

Questions relating to land expropriations are amongst those that have divided the party and leads to policy uncertainty. Following recent land thief remarks reported to be from the Twitter account of Zindzi Mandela, Venter confirms that the land issue will be in the Sona. 

He adds that although Ramaphosa has not made available the report he got from his special task team, he will provide certain directions on land. 


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