Riyaz Patel
President Cyril Ramaphosa says he hopes the ’25 Year Review Report,’ launched Friday in Mpumalanga, will stimulate “intense” and, at times, “ferocious” debate about South Africa’s 25 year experience of democracy.
“This is what it is intended to do,” said the President, noting that “while significant interventions have been implemented by government aimed at redressing inequalities and rolling out pro-poor policies, South Africa remains the most unequal society in the world.”
President Ramaphosa said the The 25 Year Review reports a “basic, but profound truth, that democratic South Africa is a nation at peace with itself and the world.”
The President pointed to a series of achievements in housing, health, education and service delivery.
But despite the progress, he said South Africa still experiences “high levels of violence and gender-based crimes” committed against women and girls, while the “economic empowerment of women remains one of the most significant challenges after 25 years.”
