Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen says the Government of National Unity (GNU) has provided an opportunity to build a united and prosperous South Africa.
Speaking at a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces to debate the President’s Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) on Friday, Steenhuisen reiterated that his party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), joined the Government of National Unity because it wants to play its part to build South Africa.
Steenhuisen said the 2024 National and Provincial Elections, which necessitated the creation of a multiparty government, offers the country a powerful opportunity to carve a new path.
“The recent expanded Cabinet Lekgotla has given us the key ingredients we need to accelerate growth and private sector investment in our economy. The Government of National Unity has identified rapid and inclusive growth to create jobs as our apex priority,” Steenhuisen said.
To achieve this, he said the GNU has committed to a responsible fiscal path that reduces the national debt in order to free up resources for productive investments.
“The planned review of sector master plans to identify obstacles to growth, the emphasis on increasing our focus on exports, and our shared commitment to slashing red tape to crowd-in private sector investment, gives us the key ingredients we need to succeed,” Steenhuisen said.
The Minister also welcomed President Ramaphosa’s Opening of Parliament Address on the policy interventions to expand the basket of food items exempt from VAT, to review and reduce the fuel price, to prevent undue political interference in the public service, and to set up specialised policing units to fight violent crime and the construction mafia.
“These policy changes are ones that the DA has long advocated for, and they will make a meaningful impact on reducing the cost of living, enhancing the capacity of the state, and tackling the violent crime that plagues too many of our communities,” Steenhuisen said.
While the Government of National Unity has met the requirement for sufficient consensus as outlined in the Statement of Intent on some key matters of economic policy, Steenhuisen acknowledged that there are still areas of divergence that require attention.
These include the need for universal health coverage, which he said has serious problems of corruption and mismanagement in the public health sector.
“The National Health Insurance (NHI) in its current form does not do enough to address these problems... The same goes for the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill and some other initiatives.
“However, in all of these areas of divergence, I am convinced that we can find a way forward. It will require us to be honest about disagreements where they do exist, and to work in good faith with one another to find solutions,” Steenhuisen said.
Steenhuisen maintained that if the Government of National Unity succeeds in delivering on its apex priority of growing the economy and creating jobs, “then the builders will defeat the breakers once and for all”.
“This Government of National Unity reflects the will of the people, who have told us loud and clear that they want an end to single party domination in favour of multiparty cooperation. The DA, alongside our partners, have heeded that call, and we have put forward our best weaver birds to help build South Africa,” Steenhuisen said. – SAnews.gov.za
