Ramaphosa: Govt has made progress in correcting injustices of the past
Ramaphosa said that government initiatives like free housing, schooling and social grants were examples of how the state was using its powers to advance change.
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his State of the Nation Address to the Joint Sitting of Parliament at the Cape Town City Hall on 8 February 2024. Picture: @ParliamentofRSA/X
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the democratic government had made progress in correcting the injustices of the past.
During his State of the Nation Address (SONA), the president said that the most accurate measure of the government’s progress was to look at how different born frees grew up compared to their parents and grandparents.
ALSO READ:
• 'The end of load shedding is finally within reach,' says Ramaphosa in SONA
• SONA 2024: President Cyril Ramaphosa's full speech
Ramaphosa said that government initiatives like free housing, schooling and social grants were examples of how the state was using its powers to advance change.
To support his theory, President Ramaphosa used an anology of a fictional character called Tintswalo.
Tintswalo is a born free child, who grew up in an RDP house, receiving free electricity and access to water and other basic services her parents didn’t have during apartheid.
Ramaphosa said that Tintswalo went to a no-fee school where she received a free meal and was supported by NSFAS for her university qualification.
"This is the story of millions of people who have been born since the dawn of our democracy. But it is only part of the story."
However, opposition parties said that Tintswalo was likely to be unemployed as seven out of ten young people are neither in school nor do they have jobs.