By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen delivered his own pre-State of the Nations Adress (Sona) in Cape Town.
Steenhuisen lauded the successes ministers from his party have achieved since its formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
“There is an alarming lack of urgency in the ANC. We have pushed the ANC to implement pro-growth, pro-jobs reforms through the medium-term development plan process, and we have pushed the president to announce such reforms during his state of the nation address,” said Steenhuisen.
The medium-term development plan, finalised last week, informs the budget and guides the government’s programme of action.
The DA has been blowing its own horn, claiming it is delivering growth and jobs in the portfolios it oversees, while influencing the ANC to embrace with urgency the economic reforms the country “desperately needs”.
Steenhuisen insisted that the country’s first point of call should be fiscal discipline and debt management, saying that the money used on paying for the country’s debt is reducing the amount of money that gets left for essential services and is said to consume 21% of the budget.
“If we cannot bring debt down to below 70% of GDP those borrowing costs will capsize the entire fiscus. To avoid this catastrophic eventuality, the GNU needs to commit to a credible plan to reduce government debt and then stick to it. We need to end bailouts to failing state-owned enterprises and begin the phased privatisation of non-essential SOEs, redirecting funds to critical economic infrastructure and service delivery.”
“We need to urgently accelerate infrastructure investment with public private partnerships in transport and water which is a huge new crisis facing the country.”
Steenhuisen urged the GNU to make it easy to do business in the country, which will include cutting red tape and compliance burdens which make South Africa difficult for business.
He says despite criticism the party has faced over the way it’s conducted itself within the GNU – it stands by its principles on contentious policy matters that have caused friction.
He says while he accepts his party wont always get its way on policy – it won’t deter it from pushing for the reforms it believes the country needs.
“There are still policy differences on key legislation such as the National Health Insurance and the Expropriation Acts that need to be thrashed out.
“I believe fundamentally that no matter how difficult the going has been, no matter how tough the analysis that has been shared has been, it’s undeniable that South Africa is immeasurably better off now for having the DA in government.”
He says he hopes President Cyril Ramaphosa will include some of the reforms recommended by the party – when he delivers the SONA.
The DA leader placed an emphasis on public sector efficiency and cracking the whip on corruption — which he suggests will be won by strengthening procurement transparency and decentralising it, to curb corruption.
“The new public procurement act includes worrying provisions that will entrench opportunities for corruption by centralising power in a single point. The president needs to ensure steps are taken to secure value for money in the public procurement process.”