“Certainty” and “hope” is what the FF Plus is expecting of president Zuma’s State of the Nation address with the opening of Parliament tomorrow (Thursday 9 February) in Cape Town.

Certainty, that investments and property rights in South Africa will be safe and hope that the government will be prepared to review economic measures which are currently dampening economic growth.

Certainty is applicable to especially foreign investors, local mining managers and South African farmers who in recent times have had to listen to comments about the nationalisation of mines and land. The court case about the Wal-Mart merger and confusing ANC statements contributed further to this uncertainty. A clear statement against nationalisation and in favour of property rights will help bring back certainty and confidence.

The preparedness of the ANC to address the populism of the Malema-thinkers already brings hope for the future. It has to be supplemented in the State of the Nation address with clear comments on new thinking with regards to job creation and economic growth.

The socialist dream where government alone tries to create jobs and tries to force the private sector through legislation to do the same is a failure. The answer lies in larger economic freedom for the private sector and intensive infrastructure creation by the state. It was the winning recipe in other developing countries and the president can create hope by moving in that direction.

If Mr. Zuma is going to try to appease all factions in the ANC in his State of the Nation address, with the leadership election in December this year in mind, we will be entering a year with a paralysed government which will take no decisions until after the leadership elections. What South Africa need is a government which courageously thinks anew and actively takes the lead out of our economic problems. This entails, amongst others, new thinking about labour legislation, affirmative action, empowerment and infrastructure creation.