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SONA21 has come & gone. @PresidencyZA @CyrilRamaphosa paused to light a candle in honour of those who are late & then took to the podium to lay out what he & our gov believe to be ‘21’s big ticket challenges & solutions
An empty gong, a canary in the mine or a cherub’s trumpet? https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1359912417862557700
An empty gong, a canary in the mine or a cherub’s trumpet? https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1359912417862557700
Two observations before the meat.
1. Prez Ramaphosa looked war-weary. He looked like what we all feel. But with more weight.
2. My livestream was out of sync. His words were disconnected from his actions. That notion stayed with me throughout his address.
1. Prez Ramaphosa looked war-weary. He looked like what we all feel. But with more weight.
2. My livestream was out of sync. His words were disconnected from his actions. That notion stayed with me throughout his address.
The theme of his address was that of the mythical Phoenix - we rise from the ashes, we are like fynbos, unique, multiplex & rejuvenated by fire. It’s a fine analogy, but it sounded hollow, it’s pick-me-up too contrived https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1359912684658053121
The bulk of the Prez’s speech addresses 4 main interventions:
1. Defeat COVID-19
2. Economic recovery
3. Economic reforms to drive jobs & growth
4. Fight corruption & strengthen the state.
Both Steenhuisen & Mashaba had the same elements in their pre-SONA takes.
1. Defeat COVID-19
2. Economic recovery
3. Economic reforms to drive jobs & growth
4. Fight corruption & strengthen the state.
Both Steenhuisen & Mashaba had the same elements in their pre-SONA takes.
There’s too much detail to deal with each point he’s made, but IMHSO1O we need to view it through the lens of: vision-strategy-tactics-implementation.
And that’s for me where the disjoint between what is said & what is done persists.
So let’s pick a few eg.’s
And that’s for me where the disjoint between what is said & what is done persists.
So let’s pick a few eg.’s
Civil society, later DA & now ActionSA have been critical of lack of vaccine plans. Plans being an indicator that planning has taken place.
In NMB, where the variant has been traced to, no such plan exist & local health officials have been read the riot act. Did the Prez know? https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1359916560207478786
In NMB, where the variant has been traced to, no such plan exist & local health officials have been read the riot act. Did the Prez know? https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1359916560207478786
SA’s scientists have shone globally in this pandemic & Gov has listened in the main. A win.
But compliance by ordinary SA’ns has required rules & force. Muizenberg crazies aren’t the issue, it’s young people partying, under-the-chin masks, etc that Command Council failed at. https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1359917329493155849
But compliance by ordinary SA’ns has required rules & force. Muizenberg crazies aren’t the issue, it’s young people partying, under-the-chin masks, etc that Command Council failed at. https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1359917329493155849
On economy the Prez strategies = good sense: 4 master plans, rehabilitating local manufacturing, getting young people working on enviro projects etc.
And AfCFTA is a key step. We cannot platform manufacturing off 59m people & expect to compete with India/China/EU/US https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1359921126747611138
And AfCFTA is a key step. We cannot platform manufacturing off 59m people & expect to compete with India/China/EU/US https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1359921126747611138
What’s missing is a sense of who we are as an economy & how we fit into the global game?
4IR is going to be a jobs pandemic.
Our industry has mechanised to compete, our resources exported raw, we sit 2-3 weeks away from global markets. Cheap electricity & labour are no longer
4IR is going to be a jobs pandemic.
Our industry has mechanised to compete, our resources exported raw, we sit 2-3 weeks away from global markets. Cheap electricity & labour are no longer
The focus on rail, turning NMB into a container hub is welcomed, but Transnet have been unable to move our manganese dump & tank farm for over 20 years, what has changed that will ensure the new promises are delivered on?
Is the Prez aware of how moribund & broken our ship is?
Is the Prez aware of how moribund & broken our ship is?
Our state is no longer captured, it is collapsed.
Be that SAPS policing style, Local Gov failures as recorded by AG, or health dept’s ineptitude in dealing with COVID-19. Where are the rickshaw bikes now?
There’s a new model. Really?
Competent people drive delivery not models https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1359927180751429634
Be that SAPS policing style, Local Gov failures as recorded by AG, or health dept’s ineptitude in dealing with COVID-19. Where are the rickshaw bikes now?
There’s a new model. Really?
Competent people drive delivery not models https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1359927180751429634
And it’s this, the sidelining of the competent by the corrupt, where the disjoint between words & action becomes dissonance becomes disbelief.
Critics focus on cadre deployment, but the state collapse is bigger, it’s become our culture, we expect great wealth without the sweat. https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1359929682850947073
Critics focus on cadre deployment, but the state collapse is bigger, it’s become our culture, we expect great wealth without the sweat. https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1359929682850947073
It’s a pandemic greater than what we face with COVID-19.
Zondo Commission is essential for us to see, to know, but as long as the Hawks are arresting Ms Gigaba rather than the PPE criminals, as long as good competent people are worked out by the connected we cannot rise.
Zondo Commission is essential for us to see, to know, but as long as the Hawks are arresting Ms Gigaba rather than the PPE criminals, as long as good competent people are worked out by the connected we cannot rise.
I like Cyril, I see his long game, I like his vision & strategies, but on tactics & implementation it remains a fail.
The PPE feeding frenzy is to me a threshold moment.
It cannot be blamed on apartheid or WMC or whichever scapegoat we wish to present.
This is on us.
The PPE feeding frenzy is to me a threshold moment.
It cannot be blamed on apartheid or WMC or whichever scapegoat we wish to present.
This is on us.
And one final thought Mr President.
Who has been jailed for the Marikana massacre?
Who has been jailed for the Marikana massacre?
