By Simon Nare
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for unity among South Africans in the face of what he describes as a “harsh global wind” attack, appealing for a committed society living together in peace, harmony and equality.
In his reply to political parties debating his State of the Nation Address in the National Assembly, Ramaphosa said on Thursday that the country must not allow outsiders to define and divide the nation.
“At a time like this, we need to stand united as a nation, particularly now when we are facing harsh global wind. This is not the time for any of us to rush off to foreign lands to lay complaints about issues that we can solve ourselves in our country.
“We need South African solutions to South African problems. While there are many diverse and different voices in our society, we must strive to convey a common message. We must say to our people and to the world that we are committed to work together to build a society in which all South Africans are free and equal,” he said.
The follows threats of further economic sanctions by US President Donald Trump’s administration after they cut off foreign aid to the country. It was in opposition to the Expropriation Act and South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
To locals opposing the new law, including Government of National Unity senior partner, the Democratic Alliance, Ramaphosa argued that the Constitution dictated that once a Bill was passed in Parliament, he must sign it into law unless he has reservations.
The president said there has been much debate about the laws that were passed in the previous Parliament, and the policy and legislative agenda of this administration.
He said it was important to understand the powers and responsibilities of the president when it came to assenting legislation passed through Parliament, after considering the views of experts and the collective wisdom of MPs.
“The Constitution is very clear. The president must assent to a Bill passed by Parliament unless the president has reservations about its constitutionality,” he said.
Ramaphosa said he was encouraged by the spirit of debate from the MPs.
He said even though they expressed different views articulating their parties’ positions on Tuesday and Wednesday, it was clear they all wanted the best for the country.
“As we said in the State of the Nation Address – and as many speakers have emphasised in this debate – what we want above all is an economy that is growing, inclusive and sustainable,” he said.
Ramaphosa said the government would work with all willing partners and mobilise whatever human, financial and other resources necessary.
The government would do the detailed work and heavy lifting and harness the country’s considerable competitive advantages to drive growth and job creation, he said.
The president acknowledged that some speakers held firm to the denialism and distortions demanded by their party positions, and this illustrated the dangers of retreating to corners.
By doing so, they were isolating themselves in ideological, cultural, racial and linguistic enclaves and hardly ever engaging beyond immediate circles.
“This is not conducive to nation building in a situation like ours, where diverse people live side-by-side. This is what makes the forthcoming National Dialogue so important.
“South Africans, informed by their different lived experiences, can discuss the many challenges facing our nation and develop common solutions. As South Africans, we have sat around the negotiating table and forged agreements under much more trying and fraught circumstances,” he said.
Ramaphosa said the journey South Africa was embarking on through the National Dialogue would result in concrete processes to become a more united and stronger country in the face of many political, social and economic challenges, both globally and locally.
Ramaphosa also told MPs that the parties that made up the GNU expressed divergent views on various matters, and sometimes these views were harshly expressed. This was expected given the different political and ideological perspectives of the 10 parties in the coalition.
He said that despite these differences, the parties in the GNU were working well together and finding ways to mediate differences. They remained focused on the actions that they committed to take.
“It is this that gives me confidence that the Government of National Unity will continue to promote stability and serve the people of South Africa, in accordance with our Statement of Intent and the Medium-Term Development Plan,” he said.
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