News24 | FRIDAY BRIEFING | Thuma two: Will the seventh administration leave no-one behind?

Thuma two: Will the seventh administration leave no-one behind?

If the 2024 elections taught the ANC anything, it was about going back to basics. 

The party which failed to achieve a majority in the recent election, under the cloud of growing poverty, inequality and unemployment, was forced to form a coalition agreement with 10 other parties. 

On Thursday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Opening of Parliament speech was reflective of this new arrangement, with ordinary South Africans seemingly being put front and centre, after the ANC was taught a brutal lesson in the national elections.

“The Government of National Unity [GNU] has resolved to dedicate the next five years to actions that will advance three strategic priorities:

Firstly, to drive inclusive growth and job creation.

Secondly, to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living.

Thirdly, to build a capable, ethical and developmental state,” Ramaphosa told Parliament. 

Ramaphosa then reflected on areas that the GNU would turn its attention to such as municipalities, red tape, and renewable energy. Many of the promises felt familiar but were delivered in an energised way. In some cases, the stakes are very high and even possibly unreachable such as addressing the cost of living. 

Will the GNU allow Ramaphosa to be the president the country needs? As my colleague, News24’s assistant editor of politics and opinion Natasha Marrian, asked, “Will strict protocols to be developed by the GNU Cabinet provide the elusive path to implementation?” If this is not done, she continued, we should probably expect more of the same. 

Newsletter

Weekly

Friday Briefing

Insight and analysis on the big political story of the week, plus a roundup of top columns and most-read stories.

Sign up

In this week’s Friday Briefing, Natasha Marrian reflects on Ramaphosa’s speech, writing that for the first time, the government has to be run professionally for it to work. It has to be almost corporatised, where line managers or ministers are accountable for the departments they run and the targets set for them.

In-depth writer Muhammad Hussain considers some of the promises made on Thursday night. 

Finally, analyst and News24 columnist Mpumelelo Mkhabela examines the changing dynamics of the seventh administration and how that is playing out in government and Parliament. 

We hope the submissions give you better insight into Ramaphosa’s speech. 

Best, 

Vanessa Banton

Opinions editor.