President Cyril Ramaphosa doing his remarks
By Kopano Dibakwane
Thousands of ANC (African National Congress) supporters from all corners of Mpumalanga and neighbouring provinces, flocked to the Mbombela stadium to celebrate the party’s 112th anniversary, also to receive the annual January 8th Statement which was delivered by ANC president, Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, on Saturday 13 January.
When delivering the January 8th Statement, Ramaphosa touched on pressing topics which included; load shedding, youth unemployment, gender inequality, poverty, crime, patriarchy, corruption, gender based violence and the party’s intention to consolidate a formidable stronghold in all provinces in order to attain an outright victory in the forthcoming 2024 national elections.
“ We are here to celebrate our past, to chart the future and outline the task ahead. We are mindful that we meet in complex and difficult times, both globally and here at home.
“ The world is facing serious risks and multiple crises, these include; rising inequality and poverty, the rising cost of living, the unfolding genocide against the Palestinian people, climate change and the risks posed by technological developments such as Artificial Intelligence,” he said.
Ramaphosa revealed that in 2024 the ANC aims to work closely with its alliance partners SACP(South African Communist Party) and COSATU(Congress of South African Trade Unions), including all sectors of society to accelerate the reconstruction of the economy, deliver quality basic services and infrastructure, renew the ANC and society, fight crime and corruption, rejuvenate the nation and contribute towards a better Africa and world.
“ It is largely due to the ANC’s decision that women must be equally represented in all public institutions that currently more than 45% of the seats in parliament are held by women. Over the past 30 years, South Africa’s young people have benefited from our transformative programmes. Government has managed to provide 4.7 million homes.
“ Eighty-nine percent (89%) of South African households have access to water, while 85% of South African homes have access to electricity. Today, more than 18 million people in our country receive grants. Nearly every young person aged 15-24 years is literate and adult literacy now stands at 85%, up from 64% in 1996,
“ Our work in promoting universal access to quality healthcare has made a tremendous impact. We have spent significant time and effort over the past three decades to establish a system of universal health insurance,” said Ramaphosa.
He mentioned that the South African economy has expanded over the past 30 years, with employment increasing from 8 million in 1994 to 16.7 million currently. He said that the agricultural output has doubled between 1994 and 2023, and employment in the sector is currently at its highest. Ramaphosa touched on the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 which has resulted in the loss of over 2 million jobs.
“ We dedicate the 112th anniversary of the ANC to the defence and advancement of the gains of freedom and to the intensification of the struggle for a better life for all. We therefore declare 2024 to be: The year of united action to defend our freedom and advance a better life for all,” Ramaphosa concluded.
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