SA expects a clear policy message, Ramaphosa – analyst

As President Cyril Ramaphosa is gearing up to make his maiden ANC January 8 Statement in the coming few days in Durban, political economy analyst Zamikhaya Maseti says South Africa expects the ruling party leader to send a clear and an unambiguous message on critical policy issues.

These, says Maseti, include “giving certainty and clarity on how government plans to implement the land redistribution without compensation policy as well as on matters pertaining to economic growth”.

“There has been much interest and expectation from the poor – especially in rural areas – on the land question,” said Maseti.

“President Ramaphosa will also be expected to touch on how much progress has been made following last year’s investment conference and how much has been achieved in growing the South African economy.”

He added: “Historically, the January 8 Statement is viewed as a broad policy statement of the ruling ANC, meant to outline priorities for the coming year and assessing progress.

“It is also meant to focus on strengths and weaknesses within the party and government.”

With the unity of the ANC being seen as important in the run-up to this year’s elections, the choice of Durban as the venue for the launch of the January 8 Statement has been viewed as a show of strength by the party against the backdrop of former president Jacob Zuma having used KwaZulu-Natal as his base to hit back at his detractors within the ANC.

Asked about the importance of South Africa serving on the powerful United Nations Security Council under the Ramaphosa presidency, Maseti responded: “South Africa will not be in a position to change the United Nations Security Council under Donald Trump as long as he is president of the United States.”

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