The National Spokesperson of the IFP, Reverend Musa Zondi, has welcomed the tone and breadth of the President's State of the Nation address and the emphasis and commitment placed upon tackling poverty and underdevelopment.

Reverend Zondi added that whilst the speech was a sober assessment of the state of the nation and the scale of the government's task, the most pressing challenge for the government was to connect with people's perceptions of delivery on the ground in South Africa and in the international indices.

Reverend Zondi said:

"The IFP welcomes the President's wide-ranging speech and his expressed commitment to prioritise the plight of the poor and marginalized, in particular to increase benefits to the poorest above the rate of inflation."

"However, the perceptions of people on the ground and in the international community, for a multitude of reasons, reveal widespread disillusionment with the pace of delivery."

"For example, though the UNAIDS accolade about the government's HIV /AIDS programme is welcome, the reality on the ground is that people are being turned away from state hospitals and there is lack of access to essential medication."

"Politics thrives upon perceptions and if there is going to be a national crusade against poverty and underdevelopment the government must do more to convincingly connect with the concerns and the aspirations of the people."

Reverend Zondi added that to successfully eradicate poverty, the sluggish economy needed to be stimulated with clear macro-economic objectives. This included addressing the outstanding issue of immigration policy, which the President said would be addressed in his speech last year and was absent in his speech this year.

Reverend Zondi, further noting that the President, as he had in previous years, said that legislation to clarify the role of traditional leadership will be introduced this year, said that failure to do so soon will further damage people's perceptions of the government's determination to deliver.

Contact:
Reverend K.M Zondi MP, IFP National Spokesperson