With one day to go before President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses government officials at the 2020 State of the Nation Address (Sona) in Pretoria, he has been urged to take a hard-stance against a host of failed policies if he is to regain the confidence of the South African public.
In a scathing letter addressed to the President, Gerhard Papenfus, chief executive of the National Employers’ Association of South Africa (Neasa), said the President’s tentative nature had led to more uncertainties than solutions, claiming Ramaphosa said one thing to investors and another to voters.
“Since becoming President, you have continued this indecisive style. You are soft on state capturers and pamper land grabbers, populists and socialists; simultaneously you attempt to comfort business,” said Papenfus.
He said that socialist policies such as, expropriation of property without compensation and the National Health Insurance scheme, would only help fast-track the country’s eventual demise.
“Should it indeed be your intention to preside over our continued decline, through expropriation of property without compensation, the complete destruction of our health services and the capture of pension funds, then say so unequivocally,” he said. “Let South African business know, let foreign investors know and don’t let Moody’s guess.”
He said Ramaphosa had the opportunity to stop the state capturers, but chose to turn a blind eye in a bid to further his political career.
“If it was impossible for you to stop state capture from within your privileged position in cabinet, you should nevertheless have exposed it, and in doing so perhaps even have run the risk of being dismissed by the previous President,” he said.
Papenfus believes Sona presents the perfect platform for the President to lay bare exactly how he plans on turning the country’s fortunes around.
“Not acting strongly now might buy you a few months, but it will destroy your legacy and decimate South Africa for decades to come.” – Bjorn Vorster
