President Cyril Ramaphosa stood firm against relentless attacks and threats of economic actions by the US President Donald Trump’s administration and vowed on Thursday that South Africa would not be bullied and would defend its sovereignty.

Delivering his State of the Nation Address in the National Assembly, Ramaphosa used the platform to hit back at Trump’s administration following criticism by the US president on the Expropriation Act.

Without mentioning it by name, Ramaphosa said while the global village was facing numerous challenges from climate change to geopolitical tensions and violent conflicts, the world was also witnessing the rise of nationalism and protectionism as well as the pursuit of narrow interests and decline of common cause.

“This is the world that we, as a developing economy, must now navigate. But we are not daunted. We will not be deterred. We are a resilient people. We will not be bullied. 

“We will stand together as a united nation. We will speak with one voice in defence of our national interest, our sovereignty and our constitutional democracy,” he said.

He added that by staying true to the country’s values, harnessing its unique strengths and endowments and by forging a common purpose, the South Africa could turn these trying circumstances to its advantage and propel the country forward. 

“As South Africans, we stand for peace and justice, for equality and solidarity. We stand for non-racialism and democracy, for tolerance and compassion

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“We stand for equal rights for women, for persons with disability and for members of the LGBTQI community. We stand for our shared humanity, not for the survival,” he said.

Ramaphosa called on the nation to summon the spirit that collapsed apartheid regime and build a country that was united and diversified.

He said through partnerships, peace and democracy were brought to the country.

He added that SA overcame apartheid and state capture and rebuilt the country after the devastating Covid-19 pandemic.

“Together, we have built durable institutions that support our democracy, protect our fundamental rights and promote the well-being of South Africans. We have built meaningful partnerships between government and business, labour, civil society and other social partners to drive growth and development,” he said.

The president said these achievements stood as models of cooperation for the rest of the world, and the country must continue to work together and confront its challenges and build a nation that worked for all.

These efforts must be guided by the wishes of the people expressed in last year’s elections which led to the formation of the Government of National Unity.

Ramaphosa said the executive adopted the Medium-Term Development Plan last week. It sets out a clear programme for the next five years.

The aspirations contained in the plan will advance the GNU’s three strategic priorities – drive inclusive growth and job creation, reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living, and build a capable, ethical and development state.

“Our most urgent task is to grow our economy so that we can create jobs, reduce poverty and improve the lives of all South Africans. To undertake this task, we need a government that works for the people.

“We need a state that is capable and competent, underpinned by a professional public service. South Africans want a state that treats all people with dignity, humility and respect,” he said 

The country deserved leaders who were prepared to serve its people with complete dedication, and public servants who were ethical, skilled and properly qualified, he said. 

For these objectives to be achieved, the government would strengthen the role of the Public Service Commission in the appointment of key people who directed the affairs of our state such as directors-general, deputy directors-general, CEOs and board members.

He added that the government would introduce a graduate recruitment scheme so that it could attract the best and the brightest into the public service.

Ramaphosa said to create a thriving economy that benefited all, the country needed to lift its economic growth to above 3%. To achieve a higher level of economic growth, the government was investing new infrastructure while upgrading and maintaining the existing ones.

“We are developing innovative ways of funding infrastructure. We are engaging local and international financial institutions and investors to unlock R100 billion in infrastructure financing. A project preparation bid window has been launched to fast-track investment readiness,” he said.

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A lack of coordination across the different spheres of government continues to persist, according to Public Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner Anele Gxoyiya.

He has described the way that the different sectors of government function with each other as “obtuse, patchy and haphazard”.

Gxoyiya was briefing the media on the PSC’s quarterly bulletin.

He identified the absence of a unified public service as a significant fault line in public sector reform, saying: “An appropriate structure with decision-making authority needs to be established to support planning and coordination across institutions and spheres of government.”

To address these challenges, the Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development Clusters have been proposed as a platform to enhance coordination, supported by technical working groups.

Reflecting on a dialogue held in September, Gxoyiya emphasised on Wednesday the need for tangible progress in including persons with disabilities in the public services. 

While acknowledging the country’s  progressive policies, he lamented the gaps in their implementation, stating: “Only a small fraction of public facilities currently meets accessibility standards. This underscores a pressing need for systematic reform.”

Themed “Service Delivery Inclusion: 30 Years and Beyond,” the dialogue drew attention to the disparity between policy and practice, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, education and employment.

One of the pressing issues highlighted was the growing financial burden of kept leave. 

“As of December 31, 2023, the total cost of kept leave in the public service was R16.24 billion, with 189,039 employees affected,” Gxoyiya said. 

He said the SA Police Service alone accounted for nearly 1.5 million days of kept leave, costing R4 billion.

The commissioner suggested exploring options such as once-off pay out or allowing employees to convert leave into pension contributions.

Another important issue raised by Gxoyiya was the non-payment of suppliers within 30 days, a recurring problem affecting service delivery.

In the second quarter of 2024, national departments delayed payments on over 40,000 invoices worth R752 million. 

Gxoyiya called for stronger mechanisms to enforce compliance, saying that failure to pay suppliers on time was in violation of the Public Finance Management Act.

The commissioner also highlighted workplace grievances, with 95% of cases referred to the PSC coming from employees. 

He stressed the importance of addressing issues such as harassment and bullying promptly, noting that “these practices adversely affect productivity and service delivery”.

In closing, Gxoyiya reiterated the PSC’s commitment to fostering a capable, ethical and developmental public service. 

“We call on public servants to embrace constitutional values in their daily tasks and commit to fostering a professional and accountable public service,” he said.

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The government has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting corruption, with Public Service and Administration Minister Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi warning that not only does it threaten the future of the nation, it is a betrayal by leaders who South Africans have placed their trust in.

“Corruption is not only a scourge that threatens the very fabric of our democracy and the future of our nation. It is an administrative failure and an act of cruelty and betrayal of the nation by (an) evil alliance of the very same people we trusted to be our leaders – yet they are not, but unscrupulous individuals.

“Such acts threaten our democracy, hinder our country’s development and perpetuate inequality,” he said on Monday.

Buthelezi was speaking at the National Dialogue on Anti-Corruption that coincided with International Anti-Corruption Day.

He described corruption as “a cancer bleeding our resources, stealing from the poor and eating away at our future”.

The dialogue, which was led by the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council and the Public Service Commission, focused on fostering collaboration across all sectors of society.

Buthelezi said fighting corruption was a shared responsibility.

“The fight against corruption is not the responsibility of the government alone, but a societal challenge that requires the participation of every sector from government, private, civil, academia and most importantly, active and vigilant citizens.”

The National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2020-2030 was presented as a robust roadmap for reform.

With its six pillars, it emphasises transparency, accountability and active citizenry as essential components to fight the scourge.

Buthelezi outlined several initiatives already underway to strengthen governance and accountability.

These included enhancing protection for whistleblowers.

“We must create an environment where exposing shenanigans and telling the truth thrives.”

He also highlighted the digitisation of procurement processes as a critical step to improving transparency and minimising irregularities.

Buthelezi stressed the importance of professionalising the public service through merit-based recruitment and ethical training to eliminate patronage and nepotism.

“Through collective action, we can reclaim the values of integrity, accountability and transparency that should define our nation,” the minister told delegates.

Recognising the critical role of young people in shaping SA’s future, he called on the youth to actively combat corruption.

“The youth, as our country’s future leaders, must be empowered to champion integrity and accountability,” he said.

Buthelezi encouraged initiatives like civic education, community engagement and leadership development to nurture a generation committed to good governance.

“Their energy, creativity and commitment are essential in shaping a future that prioritises good governance over greed,” he added.

Buthelezi stressed the importance of involving communities in monitoring procurement projects.

“Every breach must be met with swift and decisive consequences. No individual, regardless of rank, is above the law,” he asserted.

The minister also pointed out that corruption could not be eradicated without addressing collusion between the public and private sectors, especially in the financial sector.

“There are no financial transactions that take place without the active participation and processing of the banking sector,” he said, emphasising the need for banks to adopt strict ethical standards and work actively to prevent illicit financial activities.

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The Public Service Commission (PSC) has been instructed to look into a number of allegations against Hawks divisional commissioner Major-General Patrick Mbotho.

This follows the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration acceding to a request from the Portfolio Committee on Police to refer the allegations against Mbotho to the PSC for an urgent and in-depth investigation.

Mbotho is facing serious allegations, including ties to organised crime and sharing explicit content with colleagues on a detectives’ WhatsApp group while he headed up the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.

“The decision to refer the matter to the PSC signals the strong intention and commitment of both committees to ensure that the leadership of all state organs are above reproach, and have at the centre the need for effective and efficient public service,” public service committee chairperson Jan de Villiers said in a statement.

Both committees were cognisant of the importance of the Hawks and the SA Police Service in combating crime.

“The fight against crime requires police officers of high integrity who are beyond reproach. The ongoing scourge of extortions crippling the country and the fact that some police officials are also accused of perpetrating extortion, highlight why there is a need for ethical… SAPS members,” said police committee chairperson Ian Cameron.

“The fact that Major-General Mbotho has had various allegations of impropriety against him might create a negative perception about the SAPS’s willingness to fight crime.”

The investigation was lodged in accordance with Chapter 2 of the PSC rules on conducting investigations established in 2017.

While the police portfolio committee has previously called on the leadership of the Hawks to reconsider Mbotho’s appointment, the referral is based primarily on the need to investigate the allegations.

“What is important for both committees is to ensure that capable, ethical and credible officers are in the forefront of the SAPS to strengthen crime fighting efforts.

“Furthermore, the referral seeks to ensure a high standard of professionalism and accountability within the SAPS. There must be a clear message that all SAPS officers are capable and are of high integrity,” Cameron said.

The committees will wait for a clear timeline from the PSC on the processes it intends to undertake to investigate the matter.

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