South Africa Maps New
Economic Focus
Tony Ekata, Pretoria
South
Africa plans to adopt a shift towards the private sector to
address its health and energy needs.
President Jacob Zuma, in his State of the Nation address on
Thursday, said that the government was going into partnership
with the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the Industrial
Development Corporation to source funds to improve health
facilities and ensure better working conditions for health
workers.
Areas of new focus
He said Independent Power Producers would be encouraged to
participate in the energy sector while power utility, Eskom will
continue to engage in production and management of power
infrastructure.
Zuma reiterated his administration’s commitment to its other
priority areas of education, decent employment, combating crimes
and improving the effectiveness of local governments.
Mandela historic links
The theme of this year’s state of the nation address, being
‘Celebrating the legacy of Nelson Mandela’, Zuma paid
tribute to the legendary liberation hero who was ushered into
the Parliamentary chambers with songs.
An earlier plan for Mr. Mandela to take a historic walk was
cancelled. Thousands of people gathered at the Drakenstein,
formerly the Victor Vester Prison, where Mandela was released on
February 11 1990, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of his
freedom.
They were addressed by African National Congress, ANC stalwarts,
including Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, who used the
opportunity to canvass for continued support for the ANC.
No reference to private affair
Opposition parties and social commentators had expected that the
president would once again apologise for his recently disclosed
sexual indiscretion but Zuma made no reference to it. Rather, he
gave assurances that the government would continue to implement
all the undertakings made during the last World Aids Day,
relating to HIV prevention and treatment and improving the life
expectancy of the citizens.
Zuma also called on the nation to make a determined effort to
make the FIFA World Cup in June a success, in honour of Mandela
who helped to win the hosting of the event for the country.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter expressed the same sentiment in a
recorded message to congratulate Mandela on the twentieth
anniversary of his release, saying that the World Cup should
contribute to the legacy Mandela wanted for the country.
Yinka
