Opening of Parliament: Gwarube confident Ramaphosa will address issues facing SAns

CAPE TOWN - Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube says she’s confident President Cyril Ramaphosa’s opening of Parliament speech will address the issues facing South Africans.

Ramaphosa is due to deliver his address during a joint sitting of Parliament at the Cape Town City Hall later on Thursday.

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His speech will have to take into consideration the policies of the various political parties included in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

While the Democratic Alliance (DA) is known to be one of the African National Congress (ANC)’s biggest critics, the political party now seemingly has some confidence in Ramaphosa’s leadership.

Gwarube has assured South Africans that the opening of Parliament address will set the tone for the next five years.

“Look, I think South Africans have a lot to look forward to in the Government of National Unity. I think if one reflects back on the Cabinet lekgotla over the weekend, there was very much a meeting of the minds across the various parties that there are problems in South Africa that we need to deal with quickly, [like] the fact that seven out of the ten young people in this country don’t have work, or that half of our households in South Africa are going to bed hungry.”

She said the various political parties in the GNU will put their differences aside to serve the country, despite their divergent ideological beliefs.

When the rain eventually stopped, guests began to arrive for the Opening of Parliament Address (OPA).

While some are concerned that the DA can no longer play an oversight role in Parliament, the political party, however, said it won’t neglect its roots.

'DOOMSDAY COALITION WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC FOR SA'

At the same time, newly appointed DA spokesperson Willie Oukamp said the party would ensure its GNU partners serve South Africans with dignity and honour.

“We’ve got to work together [as the Government of National Unity] and there was one of two options on the table: the one was the doomsday option that our leader John Steenhuisen spoke about where the ANC, the EFF and MK [uMkhonto weSizwe Party] and the likes would go into government and that would have been catastrophic for our country.”

He also expressed confidence that Ramaphosa’s OPA would adequately reflect the GNU’s priorities.

This came as political parties arrived at the Cape Town City Hall for the joint sitting in Parliament.