The President, Cyril Ramaphosa has said that South Africa’s economy is slowly but steadily improving in 2024.
Ramaphosa who disclosed this in his New Year message on Tuesday revealed that more South Africans are finding jobs and Inflation has falling, making essential goods more affordable for households.
He said, “In 2024, South Africa achieved its first primary budget surplus in 15 years. Public sector investment has risen for another straight year. There is increased investment in roads, rail, public housing, energy and water and sanitation infrastructure.
“Business confidence to enhance investments is on the rise. International investor sentiment towards South Africa has improved, with more companies seeking to invest their presence in our economy. As this happens more jobs will be created, more livelihoods supported and more local businesses sustained.
“The far-reaching economic reforms we started in the sixth administration are showing results. We are emerging from a debilitating energy crisis that caused immense hardship for households and businesses.
“The country has now gone for 280 days without load shedding. We continue the work to get more power onto the grid, to drive massive new investment in electricity generation and to establish a competitive electricity market”, he said.
The President noted that the logistics sector, which he said is critical to the functioning of the economy, shown notable improvement following the corrective initiatives that his government embarked upon in partnership with business, labour and Transnet.
According to him, “Our ports have reduced long delays in handling imports and exports, and rail freight is flowing more efficiently. This will encourage greater investment and make them more efficient.
“Through the partnership between government and business – and through the ongoing cooperation with social partners, including labour, we are making real progress in removing the obstacles to faster growth and job creation”.
Ramaphosa pressed further that 2024 has been a year in which his administration have intensified the fight against crime. “Through the focused execution of Operation Shanela, Operation Vala Umgodi.
“As well as operations against the construction mafia, our law enforcement agencies are decisively dealing with organised crime, illegal mining, extortion at construction sites and other priority crimes.
“As a society, we have continued to focus our attention on the fight against gender-based violence and femicide. We’ve strengthened the capabilities of the criminal justice system and improved support for survivors.
“However, our primary focus must remain on the prevention of gender-based violence against the young girls and women of our country. Working with civil society and other partners across our society, we continue to call upon men and boys to stand at the forefront of changing attitudes and behaviour.
“We continue to intensify the fight against corruption and state capture. The Investigating Directorate, which has now been established as a permanent entity in the National Prosecuting Agency, currently has a number of corruption cases in court and has charged several accused individuals.
“In this 30th year of our democracy, we have taken further steps to advance constitutional mandate of upholding equality, human rights and social justice. “We signed into law transformative legislation like the National Health Insurance Act and Basic Education Laws Amendment Act. The implementation of these laws will provide greater access for all South Africans to decent health care and quality education”.
Ramaphosa hailed the South Africa’s sports men and women who have done the country proud in the sporting field as they have flown the South African flag high in various parts of the world. “We are grateful to the athletes who brought us glory at this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.
“We are proud of our nation’s artists who hoisted our flag high on the global stage. We congratulate the nation’s pioneering artists, filmmakers, writers and cultural workers who have excelled in their respective fields, achieving awards both at home and abroad”.
The South Africa leader who noted that 2024 been a year of triumphs and great progress, it has also been marked by tragedy, named the deaths of innocent young children in Soweto and other parts who lost their lives earlier this year from eating contaminated foodstuffs pain us as a nation. He reiterated his condolences to the families of the children who passed on, remembered the many lives that are senselessly lost to violence every day. “We’re deeply saddened by the negligent and unnecessary recent deaths of young men at initiation schools in the Eastern Cape.
“Our thoughts are with the families that have been left destitute in the Western Cape after devastating shack fires destroyed their homes and belongings. As individuals and as communities, we must lend our every effort to helping those affected by these terrible events”.
Ramaphosa reaffirmed his vow to work with the law enforcement authorities to ensure that all children are safe. “We will continue to make our streets and neighbourhoods safe.
As another year draws to a close, the President paid tribute to all those who continue to serve the country. “We thank our nation’s educators who support, nurture and guide our learners in the quest for better quality education.“We thank our men and women in uniform for keeping us safe at great sacrifice to their lives, thank our doctors, nurses, paramedics and other health workers and all frontline personnel who respond to people in their need.
“We thank the nation’s dedicated public servants and all South Africans who continue to perform their duties with excellence and integrity”, he expressed gratitude.
“As much as we have made progress, we’ve to do much more to overcome the challenges that confront our nation. We need to work with urgency and purpose to grow an inclusive economy and create jobs.
“We need to support our municipalities to ensure that all our people receive quality services without exception and without disruption. In particular, we need to continue to work together to address the severe water supply challenges that have affected various parts of the country.
“As a people, our unity, determination and resilience has seen us through hard times. Just as this has been a year of great change, we look to next year with great hope. We’ll be embarking on a National Dialogue, bringing all South Africans together to develop a common vision for the country”.
