State of the Nation Address 2010 by President Jacob Zuma

I stand before you this evening, 20 years since President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela walked out of prison.

We have chosen this as the day to call this Joint Sitting of Parliament to deliver the State of the Nation Address, to celebrate a watershed moment that changed our country.

The release of Madiba was brought about by the resolute struggles of the South African people. Former political prisoners and veterans who are with us here witnessed that because they were part of that process.

You will off course recall that the masses of this country, in their different formations, responded with determination to the call to make the country ungovernable and apartheid unworkable. We are celebrating this day with former political prisoners who we have specially invited to join us. We welcome in particular those who have travelled from abroad to be here, Helene Pastoors, Michael Dingake from Botswana, Mr Andimba Toivo ya Toivo of Swapo in Namibia. We are pleased to be joined by members of the legal team in the Rivonia Treason trial – Lord Joel Joffe, who is now based in London and Judge Arthur Chaskalson.

We also remember and pay tribute to Mr Harry Schwarz, who sadly passed away last week. He was, among other things, a member of the Rivonia defence team.

We extend our gratitude to our friends and comrades in the international community, for fighting side by side with us to achieve freedom. We extend a special welcome to the Mandela family. They became a symbol of the sacrifices of many who bore the brunt of apartheid. We greet the leadership of the ruling party and Alliance partners, for whom this is an extra special occasion.

Compatriots and friends,

On this special day, we must also acknowledge the contribution of those within the leadership of the National Party, who eventually realised that apartheid had no future. Allow me to mention the role played by former President PW Botha. It was he who initiated the discussion about the possibility of the release of political prisoners. President Botha worked with the former Minister of Justice, Mr Kobie Coetzee, who was in turn assisted by Dr Neil Barnard and Mr Mike Louw. They played a significant role in the process leading to the release of Madiba.

Honourable compatriots,

South Africa is yet to acknowledge in full, the critical role played by the former President of the ANC, Comrade Oliver Tambo, who laid the foundation for this country to become a shining example of freedom and democracy.

It was his outstanding leadership, foresight and clarity of vision that led the ANC to intensify the pursuit of a negotiated settlement. His wisdom was also displayed in the Harare Declaration, which he wrote and championed. It was this that laid the groundwork for the historic announcements by President FW de Klerk, 20 years ago.

In this, President de Klerk demonstrated great courage and decisive leadership. On this great day, let me also acknowledge the role played by the late Ms Helen Suzman. She was for a long time, a lone voice in Parliament, calling for change. We also recognise the role of the leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party, Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who also called for Madiba’s release, as well as that of other political prisoners and the return of exiles.

We reiterate our heartfelt gratitude to the international community for its unwavering support to our struggle. These moments in our history demonstrate our ability to come together, even under the most difficult of circumstances, and to put the country’s interests first above all other interests.

Deur saam te werk, kan ons meer bereik.

Honourable members,

During the course of this year, we will mark the centenary of the establishment of the Union of South Africa, which was established in 1910. This created a unitary state. Significantly, the exclusion of black people from this Union was one of the chief reasons for the formation of the African National Congress in 1912. As we mark this centenary later in the year, we should reflect on how far we have travelled as a country.

Honourable members,

We recall the words of Madiba on his release, when he said and I quote:

"I stand before you, not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people.

Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today.

I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands."

These words inspire us not to rest until we achieve the ideals of a society free of poverty and deprivation. In the two decades since the release of Madiba, our country has changed fundamentally. President Mandela united this country behind the goal of a non-sexist, non-racial, democratic and prosperous South Africa. As we celebrate Madiba’s release today, let us recommit ourselves to building a better future for all South Africans, black and white. Let us pursue the ideal for which Madiba has fought his entire life – the ideal of a democratic and free society, in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. Honourable members,

We called a joint sitting in the evening so that the majority in our country, workers and schoolchildren, can be part of the occasion. We are impressed by the enthusiasm of the youth about the occasion. Two hundred and sixty six children from all provinces participated in the pre-State of the Nation debate on the role of the youth in the fight against poverty.

We congratulate the overall winner, Charlotte Le Fleur of Worcester Secondary School, and all the participants for the hard work.

Compatriots and friends,

We are meeting against the backdrop of a global economic crisis. Last year, we experienced our first recession in 17 years. The crisis cost our economy about 900 000 jobs. Many of those who lost their jobs were the breadwinners in poor families.

In February last year, government, business, labour and community representatives agreed on a package of measures to reduce the scale and impact of the crisis. We have put many of these measures in place. We have implemented decisive anti-recession spending by government, especially on infrastructure. To ensure a safety cushion for the poor, we brought social grant increases forward, and extended the Child-Support Grant to children over 14 years of age. In the next three years, an additional two million children from poor families and households, aged 15 to 18 years, will benefit from the Child-Support Grant.

The Industrial Development Corporation has put aside R6 billion to help companies in distress. Government introduced a “training lay-off scheme” to allow workers the option of a period of training instead of retrenchment. These efforts were enhanced by our Public Works Programme.

The nation will recall that during the 2009 State of the Nation Address, I announced that the Expanded Public Works Programme would create 500 000 work opportunities by December 2009.

These are job opportunities created to provide unemployed people with an income, work experience and training opportunities.

Honourable members, Fellow South Africans,

We are pleased to announce that by the end of December, we had created more than 480 000 public works job opportunities, which is 97% of the target we had set. The jobs are in areas like construction, home and community-based care, and environmental projects. We have identified some areas of improvement, which we will effect going forward, including ensuring more labour-intensive projects. We know that these and other measures cannot fully mitigate the effects of the recession. We are grateful for the spirit of family, community and voluntary work that inspires many people to help those most affected by the crisis, through these difficult times.

Honourable members,

Economic indicators suggest that we are now turning the corner. Economic activity is rising in South Africa, and we expect growth going forward. The labour statistics released on Tuesday, show that the economy is now creating jobs rather than shedding them. It is too soon, though, to be certain of the pace of recovery. Government will therefore not withdraw its support measures. Now is the time to lay the groundwork for stronger growth going forward, and for growth that gives rise to more jobs.

Our long-term infrastructure programme will help us grow faster. Our education and skills programmes will increase our productivity and competitiveness.

Our Industrial Policy Action Plan and our new focus on green jobs, will build stronger and more labour-absorbing industries. Our rural development programme will improve rural productivity, and the lives of people living in rural areas. Underpinning our strategy for economic recovery and growth, is our capital investment programme.

Over the next three years, government will spend R846 billion on public infrastructure. On transport, we will maintain and expand our road network. We will ensure that our rail network is reliable, competitive and better integrated with our sea ports. To ensure reliable power supply, we have established an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Energy, to develop a 20-year integrated resource plan.

Among other things, this will look at the participation of independent power producers, and protecting the poor from rising electricity prices. We will establish an independent system operator, separate from Eskom Holdings. Eskom will continue to build additional generation capacity and improve the maintenance of its power stations. To ensure the promotion of an inclusive economy, to aid growth and development, we have established the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Advisory Council, chaired by the President.

The most urgent focus of policy change must be interventions to create jobs for young people. Unemployment rates for young people are substantially higher than the average. Proposals will be tabled to subsidise the cost of hiring younger workers, to encourage firms to take on inexperienced staff. A further expansion of public employment programmes is also underway. This includes local infrastructure and tertiary projects and literacy projects, home-based care, school maintenance and early childhood development initiatives.

Last year we launched the National Youth Development Agency. We have directed the agency to work faster to establish its structures, throughout the country, so that it can assist us to mainstream youth development programmes within government.

Honourable members,

When this administration came into office last year, we undertook to work harder to build a strong developmental state. We said it would be a state that responds to the needs and aspirations of the people, and which performs better and faster. This year, 2010, shall be a year of action. The defining feature of this administration will be that it knows where people live, understands their needs and responds faster. Government must work faster, harder and smarter.

We will expect the Executive and the Public Service to comply with this vision. We are building a performance-oriented state, by improving planning as well as performance monitoring and evaluation. We also need to integrate gender equity measures into the Government’s Programme of Action. This action will ensure that women, children and persons with disabilities can access developmental opportunities.

We are pleased to announce a new way of doing things in government.

The work of departments will be measured by outcomes, developed through our performance monitoring and evaluation system. The ministers who are responsible for a particular outcome, will sign a detailed delivery agreement with the President. It will outline what is to be done, how, by whom, within what time period and using what measurements and resources.

As you are aware, we are committed to five priorities: education, health, rural development and land reform, creating decent work, and fighting crime. In addition, we will work to improve the effectiveness of local government, infrastructure development and human settlements. We will undertake a number of key activities towards the achievement of these outcomes.

We have placed education and skills development at the centre of this government’s policies. In our 2010 programme, we want to improve the ability of our children to read, write and count in the foundation years. Unless we do this, we will not improve the quality of education. Our education targets are simple but critical. We want learners and teachers to be in school, in class, on time, learning and teaching for seven hours a day.

We will assist teachers by providing detailed daily lesson plans. To students, we will provide easy-to-use workbooks in all 11 languages. From this year onwards, all grade 3, 6 and 9 students will write literacy and numeracy tests that are independently moderated. We aim to increase the pass rate for these tests from the current average of between 35 and 40% to at least 60% by 2014. Results will be sent to parents to track progress.

In addition, each of our 27 000 schools will be assessed by officials from the Department of Basic Education. This will be recorded in an auditable written report. We aim to increase the number of matric students who are eligible for university admission to 175 000 a year by 2014.

We urge parents to cooperate with us in making this a success. We welcome last month’s statement by the three teacher unions, NAPTOSA, SADTU and SAOU, reaffirming their commitment to the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign from the beginning of 2010.

Honourable members,

We need to invest in our youth to ensure a skilled and capable workforce to support growth and job creation.

We therefore plan to increase the training of 16-25 year olds in further education and training facilities. This will enable us to provide a second chance at education, for those who do not qualify for university. We are working with higher education institutions to ensure that eligible students obtain financial assistance, through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. We have also set ambitious targets for skills development, to produce additional engineers and technicians, and to increase the number of qualified Mathematics and Science teachers. We must also increase the number of youth who enter learnerships in the private and public sectors.

Another key outcome is to ensure a long and healthy life for all South Africans. We will continue to improve our healthcare system. This includes building and upgrading hospitals and clinics, and further improving the working conditions of healthcare workers. We have partnered with the Development Bank of Southern Africa to improve the functionality of public hospitals and their district offices. We are also collaborating with the DBSA and the Industrial Development Corporation, in a public-private partnership programme to improve hospitals and provide finance for projects.

Honourable members,

We must confront the fact that life expectancy at birth, has dropped from 60 years in 1994 to just below 50 years today. We are therefore making interventions to lower maternal mortality rates, to reduce new HIV infections and to effectively treat HIV and tuberculosis. We will also reduce infant mortality through the massive immunisation programme. We will reinstate health programmes in schools. We will implement all the undertakings made on World AIDS Day relating to new HIV prevention and treatment measures. Intensive work is underway to ensure that this work is on schedule. We will also continue preparations for the establishment of a national health insurance system.

Fellow South Africans,

We are working hard to ensure that everyone in South Africa feels safe and is safe. We will take further our work to reduce serious and violent crimes, and ensure that the justice system works efficiently. We are implementing plans to increase the number of policemen and women by 10% over the next three years. We have identified the fight against hijacking, business and house robberies, as well as contact crimes such as murder, rape and assault, as top priorities. We all have a role to play. Let us participate in community safety forums. Let us stop buying stolen goods. Let us always be ready to provide the police with information about criminal activity.

Tshebedisano mmoho etla lwantsha botloko-tsebe.

Compatriots and esteemed guests,

Local government must work. Municipalities must improve the provision of housing, water, sanitation, electricity, waste management and roads. We held a meeting with mayors and municipal managers last year. This provided valuable insight into the challenges in local government. We also visited various communities and municipalities, including Balfour in Mpumalanga and Thembisa in Gauteng. After the Balfour visit, we sent a nine-member ministerial team to visit the area to address the issues that had been raised by the community. A number of issues have already received attention. I have directed the ministers to attend to the outstanding matters. We reiterate that there are no grievances that can justify violence and the destruction of property. We have directed law-enforcement agencies to take a tougher stance on lawlessness in Balfour and other areas. In December 2009, Cabinet approved a turnaround strategy for local government. This will ensure that local government has the correct management, administrative and technical skills.

During this year of action, let us work together to make local government everybody’s business. We are working to upgrade well-located informal settlements and provide proper service and land tenure to at least 500 000 households by 2014. We plan to set aside over 6 000 hectares of well-located public land for low-income and affordable housing.

A key new initiative will be to accommodate people whose salaries are too high to get government subsidies, but who earn too little to qualify for a normal bank mortgage. We will set up a guarantee fund of R1 billion to incentivise the private banking and housing sector, to develop new products to meet this housing demand.

Bakwethu,

Ngonyaka odlule sathi, abantu basemakhaya nabo banelungelo lokuba nogesi, amanzi, izindlu zangasese ezigijima amanzi nemigwaqo.

Sathi kufanele babe nezindawo zezemidlalo kanye nezindawo zokuthenga ezinkulukazi eziphucuzekile njengasemadolobheni.

In this regard, we launched the first pilot site of the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme in Giyani, Limpopo, in August last year. Since then, 231 houses have been built. Progress has also been made in providing infrastructure to support agricultural development, and training for community members. Access to health and education facilities has improved. We are implementing similar programmes in seven sites across the country, benefiting 21 wards. By 2014, we aim to have sites in 160 wards. We want 60% of households in these sites to meet their food requirements from own production by 2014.

Kancane kancane kuze kulunge, phela bakwethu, kuthiwa nempandla iqala ngenhlonhlo.

We also need to better integrate land reform and agricultural support programmes. Our success in this area will be measured by the increase in the number of small-scale farmers that become economically viable.

Honourable Speaker and Chairperson of the NCOP,

We are not a water-rich country. Yet, we still lose a lot of water through leaking pipes and inadequate infrastructure. We will be putting in place measures to reduce our water loss by half by 2014.

Honourable members,

As part of our efforts to encourage greater economic growth, we are working to reduce the cost to communicate. The South African public can look forward to an even further reduction of broadband, cellphone, landline and public phone rates. We will work to increase broadband speed and ensure a high standard of Internet service, in line with international norms.

Fellow South Africans,

This government will ensure that our environmental assets and natural resources are well protected, and are continually enhanced.

Together with Brazil, India and China, and joined by the United States, which represented the developed world, we made a significant contribution to the accord adopted at the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in December last year. Although it does not go as far as required, it is an important step forward as it commits all countries to respond to climate change. We will work harder with our international counterparts towards a legally binding treaty. As South Africa, we have voluntarily committed ourselves to specific emission-reduction targets, and will continue working on our long-term climate change mitigation strategy.

Honourable members,

We will intensify efforts to promote the interests of South Africa globally. We will support efforts to speed up the political and economic integration of the SADC region, and promote intra-regional trade and investment. South Africa continues to play a leading role in continental efforts to strengthen the African Union and its organs, and to work for unity. We will focus energy on revitalising the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, as a strategy for economic development on the continent.

Fellow South Africans,

The Public Service has to respond to the call to make this term one of faster action and improved state performance. We require excellence and hard work. We need public servants who are dedicated, capable and who care for the needs of citizens. Government is already working on the development and implementation of a public service development programme, which will set the norms and standards for public servants in all spheres.

Honourable Members,

We continue our efforts to eradicate corruption and fraud in procurement and tender processes, and in applications for drivers’ licences, social grants and identity documents, among others. We are pleased with the progress government is making in some areas. This week, we terminated 32 687 fraudulent social grants payments, valued at R180 million. Our Inter-Ministerial Committee on Corruption is looking at ways to decisively defeat corruption.

Nga u shumisana rothe ringa bveledza zwinzhi.

Compatriots,

As you are aware, we introduced the Presidential Hotline to make government and The Presidency more accessible to the public, and to help unblock service-delivery blockages. The hotline represents our determination to do things differently in government. It has made a difference in the lives of many South Africans. We can mention Mrs Buziwe Ngaleka of Mount Frere, whose call about her late husband’s pension was the first we took on the first day of the service. She is with us here tonight. We also have among us Mr Nkululeko Cele, who was helped to obtain identity documents, which allowed him to enrol at Tshwane University of Technology.

These are just two among many success stories. From these and other examples, we identify weaknesses that should be rectified by various spheres of government. Through the Speaker, we have invited a multiparty delegation from Parliament to visit the call centre, so that MPs can get a first-hand account of the work done.

Compatriots and friends,

I have outlined the main elements of our plans for 2010, our collective commitment as government to the people of South Africa. The State of the Nation Address provides a broad overview of our action plan. Ministers will provide the detail in their respective Budget Vote speeches.

Honourable members, fellow South Africans,

In November this year, we will mark the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in South Africa. It provides an opportunity to recognise the important contribution of the Indian community in the fields of labour, business, science, sport, religion, arts, culture and the achievement and consolidation of our democracy.

Compatriots and friends,

Let me take this opportunity to once again extend our heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Haiti on the monumental tragedy that has befallen them. We are pleased that our rescue teams were able to go and assist. I would like to especially recognise one South African who never fails to assist in times of disasters, and helps us to promote the vision of a caring society. We welcome Dr Imtiaz Sooliman of the Gift of the Givers in this house today.

Fellow South Africans,

The hosting of the FIFA World Cup makes 2010 truly a year of action. We have spent many years planning for this World Cup. We only have three months to go. And we are determined to make a success of it. The infrastructure, security and logistics arrangements are in place to ensure a successful tournament. As a nation, we owe a debt of gratitude to the 2010 Local Organising Committee for their sterling effort. We wish the LOC Chairperson, Irvin Khoza, CEO Danny Jordaan and Bafana Bafana coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, all the best for the months ahead.

President Mandela was central in assisting the country to win the rights to host this great event. We therefore have to make the World Cup a huge success in his honour. Compatriots, let us also stand behind the national team Bafana Bafana. I’m one of those who believe Bafana Bafana is going to produce surprises. Most importantly, ithikithi esandleni bakwethu! Let us all buy tickets timeously to be able to attend the games.

Fellow South Africans,

As we celebrate Madiba’s release today, we recommit ourselves to reconciliation, national unity, non-racialism and building a better future together as South Africans, black and white.

We are guided by what Madiba said in the dock, that and I quote:

"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people.

I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination.

I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society, in which all persons live together in harmony, and with equal opportunities.

It is an ideal which I hope to live for, and to achieve.

But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

Inspired by our icon Madiba, it is my honour to dedicate this 2010 State of the Nation Address to all our heroes and heroines, sung and unsung, known and unknown. Let us work together to make this year of action a successful one for our country.

I thank you.