DA: Solly Malatsi: Address by DA National Spokesperson, during the debate on the State of the Nation Address, Parliament (14/02/2023)

14th February 2023

Many South Africans are sick and tired of being mesmerised with poetic phrases about hope.

They are frustrated about being rallied to be resilient when their lives are a daily struggle for survival. They no longer need stories enticing them to re-imagine the future when they live in despair.

For many South Africans the hardships they endure daily are inflicted by ANC government’s failures. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for Q3 in 2022, 11.2 million South Africans are unemployed.

10. 2 million young people between the ages of 15 and 24 are not in employment, education or training. They lack the skills nor qualification to stand any chance of ever finding a job in their lifetime.

This is the greatest betrayal of a generation of young people. It’s scary that crime stats show that every day between July and September 2022, 76 people were murdered. These aren’t just numbers.

Every murdered person was loved by someone. All of us – well except those with VIP protectors – live in fear of criminals who aren’t scared of law enforcement authorities. Mr President – many South Africans work hard to provide for their families and protect their loved ones from harm. All they need is the government to do its job and do it well.

All the people of Giyani, Polokwane and every other community that often goes for days or months without water - need is clean running water when they open their taps. They are not asking for miracles. They look to you for leadership and solutions. They look to you for compassion for their suffering.

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