Ramaphosa must be more aggressive in demanding the reforms that SA needs - Hill-Lewis

CAPE TOWN - Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said that President Cyril Ramaphosa needs to be more aggressive in demanding the reforms that the country needs to increase economic growth and reduce unemployment.

Hill-Lewis said that the Government of National Unity (GNU)'s honeymoon was over and big reforms were now urgent.

Speaking at the Cape Town Press Club on Thursday, Hill-Lewis said he believed that the Government of National Unity could take a leaf out of Cape Town's book to develop the rest of the country.

The Democratic Alliance (DA)-run City of Cape Town is regularly criticised for being one of polar opposites but Hill-Lewis was unapologetic about demanding more for the city and said that the GNU could take lessons.

He said that the budget doesn't lie and over 75% of the city’s budget was dedicated to infrastructure development to benefit poor residents.

"Be clear that we want to be a country that aims higher. We cannot accept what is happening to our largest cities around us, and have a meaningful plan to do something about it."

A former member of Parliament, Hill-Lewis said that the time had arrived for Ramaphosa to crack the whip.

"Softly, softly, gently, gently has been President Ramaphosa's approach for years, and it just won't cut it now. Be exacting in raising standards and expecting more of the state. Do not settle for the mediocrity that has become the accepted norm."

Hill-Lewis said that while Cape Town still had a way to go to be a city of hope for all, it's doing more than other metros in achieving this.