Ramaphosa looks forward to the next 25 years of SA democracy

Everyone has a role to play in finding long-term solutions, President Cyril Ramaphosa said while delivering his keynote address under the theme “Democracy in South Africa: The next twenty-five years”, at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on Tuesday.

He outlined proposed solutions that were needed to propel the country in the right direction at UJ’s 25 Years of Democracy conference.

“Everyone has a role to play in finding solutions and true nation building requires collaboration.”

He admitted there were clear challenges that government faced, which in turn resulted in poverty deepening in the country.

“There needs to be a centrality of long-term planning, which includes improving social cohesion.”

Answers to pivotal questions such as how industries could ensure economic growth benefited everyone needed to be available.

“We need to strengthen public institutions and improve our models of implementation.”

Safe and reliable public transport, early childhood development, as well as the right choices, were key focus areas for government in overcoming challenges.

The conference forms part of a broader social dialogue that should enrich people’s understanding of the last 25 years and that contributed to a common vision and programme for the next 25 years, he said.

“This conference provides an opportunity to assess progress towards the achievement of our vision of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous and free society. It is a platform to identify challenges, opportunities and tasks of the present and the future.

“In the very first years of democracy, we were called upon to address an immediate economic crisis, characterised by a substantial fiscal deficit, a huge apartheid debt bill and stagnant growth.

“Through sound macroeconomic management and, to some extent, the benefits of a democratic dividend, we succeeded in turning around public finances and setting the country on an improved growth path.”

He, however, admitted that since then unemployment had increased over the past decade – which he has in other interviews referred to as “nine wasted years” – poverty levels were on the rise and millions of South Africans remained economically excluded.

“These challenges were underpinned by an economy that was in its design and structure simply unable to satisfy the needs of the South African people.”

In closing, he urged the country to work together in improving the current state of affairs to forge a common national identity.

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