The IFP today welcomed the broad thrust of the State of the Nation Address with the focus of moving from public policy to the more difficult "nuts and bolts" of implementation.

The IFP as a moral and constructive opposition will work to ensure that the promises made will become reality in parliament and in the communities of South Africa.

It was particularly gratifying that time frames were given to the infrastructure initiatives to develop the First Economy in the national logistical system. That said, the IFP would like to have seen a greater emphasis upon what macro-economic measures would be implemented to make South Africa a haven for Foreign Direct Investment and to lighten the burden on would-be entrepreneurs.

The most pressing need still is to develop a macro-economic strategy that will accelerate economic growth to 6 percent+ to turn the tide against South Africa's deep structural poverty and to narrow the ever widening wealth gap between the elite and the majority poor.

And while the IFP wholeheartedly endorses the Expanded Work Programme to respond to the challenges of the 2nd economy, these programmes in themselves will not be a panacea to South Africa unemployment crisis. The jobs created will only be short term, though they will provide for skills training.

The IFP would also like to have seen a more detailed programme to treat and care for people living with the plight of HIV/Aids. We exhort government to doing everything possible to expedite and expand the programme to roll out anti-retroviral drugs.