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The President of the Inkatha Freedom Party, Prince Mangosuthu
Buthelezi MP welcomed the broad thrust of President Jacob Zuma's state
of the nation address, although "in language and tone it seemed to
indicate a perceptible shift to the left".

Buthelezi said that the speech "contained many pledges which would
need to be carefully monitored and evaluated". He also supported the
intention to create a "more inclusive economy" and the announcement of
the second phase of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

Buthelezi added that "the IFP had long called for a homegrown South
African "New Deal" to eliminate unemployment and, just as importantly,
the causes of joblessness". He struck the cautionary note that
creating optimal conditions for the private sector to prosper was as
important as state intervention.

In this regard, Buthelezi said that the IFP would like to hear more
details from the President on Tuesday of how the government intends to
keeps its laudatory promise to end the culture of dependency and
encourage self-reliance.