President Cyril Ramaphosa’s opening of Parliament address has been met with praise and criticism from political parties represented in Parliament.

On Thursday, Ramaphosa officially opened the Parliament of the seventh democratic administration.

After the 2024 national and provincial elections, which saw the African National Congress (ANC) lose its outright majority for the first time since 1994, the ANC formed the Government of National Unity (GNU) with opposition parties represented in Parliament.

Eleven parties have signed the GNU Statement of Intent.

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen said the alignment with DA policy in the list of priority areas announced by Ramaphosa in his speech, was a clear indication that the party’s call for a programme based on rapid economic growth and job creation had been heeded.

“We welcome with open arms the acknowledgement that growing the economy is the starting point to fix so many social ills and create a just and equal society. Cutting red tape of public-private partnerships (PPPs) is also something the DA put into practice where we govern and called for at a provincial and national level,” he said.

He pointed out that the DA headed up critical portfolios that would carry out an infrastructure-led development plan that will “make South Africa a construction site”, address food security, improve education and create a streamlined and efficient Home Affairs.  

The party also welcomed the review of the VAT-free basket of food and a commitment by the President to review the fuel price structure.

However, the party emphasised that unless there was swift implementation and zero deviation from the reform agenda and pledges, the expectations of many citizens would remain little more than that.

Steenhuisen said his party wanted to see increased private-sector involvement in the turnaround strategy of State-owned enterprises, particularly those that pertain to service delivery.

Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi said his party would support Ramaphosa’s intervention on economic growth and job creation.

“As RISE Mzansi, we will work with the President and the executive to ensure that every word and every rand and cent spent over the next five years is accounted for. Our work is to ensure that this government works for the people,” he said.

CAUTIOUS ENDORSEMENT

ActionSA Parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said his party’s response to Ramaphosa’s opening address was a blend of cautious endorsement and pointed criticism.

“While we acknowledge the alignment of many new government policies with ActionSA’s manifesto, we remain wary of the government’s ability and willingness to implement these policies effectively. Vigilant oversight and genuine action are necessary to transform promises into reality,” said Trollip.

The party also highlighted a significant shift in government’s approach in Thursday’s opening of Parliament address, compared with February’s State of Nation Address.

ActionSA applauded government’s nod towards sustainability at the local level, but believes that clarity on how exactly it planned to support this transition should be made available.

The emphasis on inclusive economic growth and empowerment was commendable, it said, as it aligned closely with ActionSA’s goals.

“The intention to release State land, provide post-settlement support, and foster rural development is a positive step towards job creation in rural areas. However, there is thin credibility to this claim,” Trollip highlighted.

He said the promotion of PPPs was another point of contention, noting that while recognising their potential, it must be remembered that government had historically failed to deliver on such initiatives.

“Therefore, as ActionSA we pledge to monitor the implementation of these partnerships closely, ensuring they lead to tangible benefits rather than remaining empty promises,” he explained.

Trollip said ActionSA’s critique extended to the omission of critical issues, such as South Africa’s international reputation, and the greylisting owing to financial mismanagement and pervasive corruption.

He pointed out that these areas were vital to restoring trust and credibility on the global stage to attract investment.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said there was nothing of substance offered by the plans of the “white supremacist” GNU.

“In fact, this is a crucial opportunity to expose and denounce Ramaphosa’s blatant failure to deliver on his stale promises from the previous opening of Parliament address five years ago,” the party said.

The party stated that Ramaphosa’s “incessant lies” about job creation, infrastructure development, inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction had been echoed since 2019 and continued in Thursday’s address.  

“Ramaphosa’s proposals to attract business investment to eradicate unemployment are nothing but a plan to implement highly exploitative labour policies with minimal regulation and grossly inadequate pay for workers, directly from the DA’s labour policy playbook. However, giving free rein to white capital will never solve unemployment, as capitalism fundamentally prioritises profit over people,” the EFF said.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) Parliamentary leader John Hlophe said Ramaphosa’s speech was appalling, with a lot of GNU influence, and he concluded that the speech was compromised.

The MKP expressed disappointment, saying the President was praising and justifying the GNU.

He accused Ramaphosa of lying about the creation of two-million jobs, and said the speech was silent on critical issues such as the restoration of land.

He said the reason Ramaphosa did not mention the issue of Palestine and Israel in his speech, was because of the DA’s inclusion in the GNU.

Build One South Africa’s Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster noted that Ramaphosa’s address did not deliver on the bold reforms, saying a golden opportunity was missed.

ACCOUNTABILITY AND TANGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS

Amnesty International South Africa said while Ramaphosa's address hit all the right notes, the President must be held accountable to his statements as the real test would be in the implementation of his plan.  

Amnesty International South Africa executive director Shenilla Mohamed said the new administration under the GNU must demonstrate its ability to provide basic services and uphold human rights for all residents. 

“With this new government, we expect to see results. People in South Africa are tired of rhetoric and the ongoing struggle to secure their basic rights from the State and government officials who are supposed to ensure these rights are met,” she said. 

She highlighted that service delivery in the country had been severely compromised by corruption, poor policy implementation, and neglect of key infrastructure. This, she argued, was harming citizens who were constitutionally entitled to have their basic needs met and to live with dignity.

"The era of impunity must end. We demand real accountability from President Ramaphosa and his government of national unity. We want to see tangible improvements in people's lives and the realisation of everyone's rights," she said.