News
Ramaphosa says Presidency will focus on SONA priorities to spur growth and jobs
President Cyril Ramaphosa told the National Assembly on Tuesday that the Presidency will concentrate on the priorities set out in the State of the Nation Address (SONA) to grow the economy and create jobs in 2026/27.
Presidency defined as coordinating centre, not service department
Tabling the budget vote for the Presidency, Ramaphosa clarified the role of his office, saying: “The Presidency does not build roads, deliver water or supply medicines to clinics.” He described the office as “the strategic centre from which the government drives implementation, resolves blockages, mobilises partnerships and ensures that the commitments we make to the people of South Africa are translated into tangible results”.
He said the Presidency’s mandate is to provide strategic leadership across the state and that its resources are invested in long-term planning, policy coordination, evidence-based decision-making, performance monitoring and implementation oversight.
Economic recovery, external shocks and job creation
Ramaphosa said his office continues to coordinate the national investment drive and to broaden markets for South African goods as the economy shows signs of improvement. He warned, however, that international events were threatening the recovery.
As he put it: “The attack by the United States and Israel on Iran, and the conflict that has now engulfed much of the region, have set off a global oil crisis. The effects of the surge in oil prices, and of other critical supplies like fertiliser, are likely to undermine much of the progress we had made in bringing down inflation and the cost of living.”
Ramaphosa warned these developments were likely to slow economic growth and hamper efforts to create jobs, and noted that they were unfolding “as the latest employment figures from Stats SA show a decline in employment in the last quarter.”
Crime, corruption and oversight
He named the fight against crime and corruption as presidential priorities and said he looked forward to the final report of the Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, chaired by Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
Ramaphosa also welcomed a newly established parliamentary committee that will exercise oversight over the Presidency, saying: “Strengthening parliamentary oversight is good for transparency, accountability and our democracy.”
Gender-based violence and migration
The Presidency, Ramaphosa said, is leading efforts to mobilise South Africans against violence toward women. “We continue to strengthen the response of the police, prosecutors and courts, and are improving support and care for survivors of gender-based violence.”
On migration, he said that if well managed and regulated, migration could help drive growth and opportunity. He reiterated measures announced in SONA to address migration, including “cracking down on violations of immigration laws”, increased workplace inspections, prosecutions of employers who violate labour laws, strengthening border security, stamping out corruption in the immigration system and closing loopholes in fragmented immigration laws.
He called on South Africans “not to give in to violence, xenophobia or vigilantism,” and urged society to stand against “disinformation, incitement, racism and ethnic mobilisation.” He added: “We will strengthen and enforce our laws, while upholding the Constitution and the human dignity of all. This will enable us to deal with illegal immigration without turning against one another.”
Public engagement and political context
Ramaphosa said pilot dialogues will be held across the country between June and August this year, including ward-based engagements, digital engagements and sectoral dialogues, and called on South Africans to take part: “I call on all South Africans to come together once more and be part of crafting a new vision for South Africa.”
Speaking about an overriding priority for government, he warned against being distracted by political developments and said the national executive, Parliament and the courts are mandated to serve the people and uphold the Constitution.
Responses in the Assembly
ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli urged parties to support the budget vote, saying the Presidency is the centre for strategic leadership. He said: “When we vote for this budget, we are not merely approving administrative expenditures, we are resourcing the centre of government to coordinate delivery, enforce accountability, rebuild the state capacity and give practical expression to priorities of the Medium Term Development Plan.”
MK Party MP Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala said her party would not support the budget vote, stating: “It says grow the economy but you don’t have power under the neo-liberal economy.”
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
Source: iol.co.za
