EFF on President Ramaphosa
By Mpho Moloi – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have condemned President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent televised address as a blatant misuse of state resources for ANC electioneering. Sixolise Gilishe, EFF Election Spokesperson, led the charge, condemning the President’s address that aired on the public broadcaster.
As millions of South Africans gear up to cast their votes in the upcoming elections for the seventh administration, the President’s speech on Sunday has not sat well with the opposition. President Ramaphosa, speaking in his capacity as the head of state, took the opportunity to reflect on what he termed the “achievements and challenges” of his administration since 2019.
Ramaphosa’s Address: A Recap
In his 30-minute address, President Ramaphosa recalled that South Africa was at a “turning point” at the start of his term due to a decade riddled with corruption, state capture, and economic challenges. He accentuated his government’s efforts to mitigate these issues and highlighted several initiatives aimed at economic reform, crime reduction, and combating corruption.
“We had endured a decade of corruption and state capture, of weak economic growth and the erosion of our public institutions. Today, we have put that era behind us. We have placed South Africa on a new trajectory of recovery and laid a strong foundation for future growth,” President Ramaphosa said.
Achievements in the Spotlight
The President spotlighted several accomplishments, including reforms in various economic sectors, initiatives to combat crime and corruption, and the establishment of a permanent Investigating Directorate within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to fight corruption.
Furthermore, he delved into the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting a comprehensive social and economic support package. “We introduced a massive package of social and economic support to protect vulnerable businesses, workers and households,” President Ramaphosa remarked, pointing out significant milestones such as the administration of over 39 million COVID-19 vaccine doses and job recovery efforts.
EFF’s Sharp Rebuke
However, the EFF has opposed the narrative put forth by President Ramaphosa. In a strongly worded statement, the party accused the President of misusing the public broadcaster to further the interests of the ANC.
“Cyril Ramaphosa’s use of the public broadcaster on Sunday night to trumpet the ANC’s achievements in office is a blatant misuse of presidential powers and state resources,” the statement read. The EFF argued that this act undermines democratic principles and fair competition, labelling it a desperate attempt by the ANC to cling to power amidst fears of electoral defeat.
Critical Points of Contention:
- COVID-19 Fund Embezzlement: The EFF criticised the government’s handling of corruption linked to COVID-19 funds, noting the lack of successful prosecutions.
- State Capture Prosecutions: Questions were raised about the efficacy of state capture prosecutions.
- Gender-Based Violence: The increasing rates of gender-based violence remained an unresolved issue, contrary to the President’s claims.
- National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill: The EFF maintained that a functioning public health system should be the priority over policies benefiting the private sector.
A Call to Action
The EFF is urging South Africans to see through what they describe as an “abuse of power” and to vote for a political party that upholds democratic values and serves the broader public interest. Additionally, the party has called for an immediate investigation into the utilisation of the state broadcaster for what they deem partisan purposes.
“This act of desperation signals a party that is losing its grip and is willing to compromise the integrity of our democratic processes to maintain power,” the EFF said.
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