President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africa’s unity government to urgently focus on economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction, stressing that these issues must be at the heart of national policy.
Delivering his first state-of-the-nation address since forming a coalition government seven months ago, Ramaphosa acknowledged the country’s deep economic inequalities, which persist three decades after the end of apartheid.
He set an ambitious target to boost economic growth to over 3%, significantly above the current projection of 1.6% over the next three years. With unemployment at 32% and inequality among the highest in the world, the president said the government would push for large-scale investment in infrastructure, including transport, water, and sanitation projects.
Ramaphosa announced plans to secure 100 billion rand (€5.2 billion) in local and international investment and emphasised the need for private sector collaboration to fund and manage key projects. He also reaffirmed plans for South Africa’s first National Health Insurance scheme.
His address began with a minute of silence for the 14 South African soldiers killed in conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo last month.
Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) lost its outright majority in the May 2024 elections and formed a coalition with the pro-business Democratic Alliance (DA), marking a shift towards centrist economic policies. Despite occasional tensions within the 10-party coalition, analysts believe the government is on track to complete its five-year term.
The DA, which controls six key ministries, welcomed Ramaphosa’s speech, saying it reflected many of its priorities and showed that its “efforts in government are shaping the future of South Africa.”
