Ramaphosa praises GNU, says door is open for collaboration

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa is not in the hopeless state that some opposition parties claim it's in. 

Neither is the Government of National Unity (GNU) a fleeting convenience. 

Ramaphosa was replying to Friday’s marathon debate on his Opening of Parliament address on Monday. 

The president delivered the address to both houses on Thursday. 

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Ramaphosa said the country had entered a new era of politics, which was one of hope and optimism. 

He said South Africa should not lose sight of how far it had come since the dawn of democracy 30  years ago. 

"Certainly, there've been setbacks and shortcomings, and I'm one of those who are first to admit that, but we have done much to recover from these and are now committed to move forward with greater speed and impact," he said.

He said GNU parties agreed not to claim political victories over the implementation of policy. 

"There should be no competition among the parties to the GNU to try undo or outdo each other, or to lay claim to the policies that we collectively adopt," Ramaphosa said.
 
He added that the door to the GNU remained open for collaboration.