By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the country to unite and work together in the New Year to overcome SA’s socio-economic challenges.
In his New Year message on Saturday, Ramaphosa said 2022 has been a difficult year during which South Africans continued to endure the hardships that are given rise to by unemployment, poverty and persistent inequality.
On top of all this, the president said citizens have had to deal with the rising cost of living, natural disasters and the load shedding crisis.
Despite all of these challenges, Ramaphosa said South Africans “still hold fast to the belief in our nation’s greatness” to see it prosper and thrive.
“We are undertaking reforms in the operation of our ports and railways and in our telecommunications, water and electricity sectors. We are working hard to end the crisis of load shedding. We are increasing the amount of renewable energy on the grid.
“The benefits of this work may not be immediately felt, but we should expect that these efforts will steadily reduce the need for load shedding until it is no longer necessary,” the president said.
Ramaphosa said that just as the new year is a time for a fresh start in people’s lives, so too must it be for the life of the nation.
“South Africans want to see our country’s electricity challenges resolved. They want to see tougher action against corruption. They want to lead lives of dignity and have jobs. They want to live in safety, freedom and peace. We must build on the important work that has been done this past year to determine our actions in the next,” he said.
Ramaphosa dubbed 2022 a difficult year where South Africans have been forced to deal with the rising cost of living and an energy crisis.
“We have also been burdened by the loss of loved ones to a number of tragedies,” he said.
“There have been devastating, tragic events that have destroyed both lives and livelihoods. These events have included floods, fatal vehicle crashes, deaths in taverns, dam wall collapses, drownings, fires in informal settlements and most recently, the terrible explosion of a fuel tanker in Boksburg in Gauteng that killed at least 34 people.
Ramaphosa also acknowledged the families of young men who had lost their lives during the summer initiation season. “Turning what was meant to be a time of joy and celebration into a time of sorrow.