Zuma does not pass Solidarity's test with State of the Nation Address
The trade union Solidarity has given President Zuma 47 out of 100 for his State of the Nation Address today. The trade union has based this evaluation on a scoring of 10 crucial issues that have been identified.
Dr Dirk Hermann, deputy executive head of Solidarity, has welcomed the president's honest admission of numerous crisis situations the country is burdened with presently, like crime, unemployment and electricity shortages. "It was good to hear the president admitting that municipal service delivery is still not on a desirable level."
However, the trade union has expressed its dissapointment with the way in which the president identified some problems without presenting appropriate solutions. "With regard to crime, skills shortages and the pressure that is put on the rights of minorities in South Africa, President Zuma did not bring forward any significant new solutions."
Solidarity has also expressed its dissapointment with Zuma's unsound stance on nationalisation and other radical state interference, especially in the mining industry. "The issues of nationalisation and state interference had already caused a stir in the last couple of years and caused grave concern among interested parties, especially in the mining industry. The State of the Nation Address was a golden opportunity for the president to confirm the announcement of Susan Shabangu, minister of mineral resources, that South African mines will not be nationalised. It is regrettable that the president did not use this opportunity to prove to existing and prospective investors in South Africa that the country is still a business-friendly investment destination that hold the right of ownership in high esteem."
Meanwhile, Solidarity is of the opinion that the president anchors his economic approach in the idea that the state should be the central role player in the economy, with the ultimate goal of ensuring equal outcomes, rather than equal starting points. In spite of the president's fine intentions, the trade union is of the opinion that this economic approach leads to increasing poverty, rather than increasing prosperity.