Ramaphosa: GNU's committed to working for inclusive economic growth, accelerating job creation

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed Parliament for the last time this year, updating the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on issues affecting the country.

Ramaphosa’s annual address to the NCOP focused on growing the economy, the social wage, spaza shops and the Government of National Unity (GNU).

NCOP members also debated his address, with calls for him to implement the National Health Insurance (NHI) and the BELA Act.

Ramaphosa started his annual address to the NCOP by talking about the Government of National Unity and how committed it was to growing the economy, despite their differences.

"They have, however, committed themselves to work for inclusive economic growth and accelerate job creation."

Ramaphosa told the NCOP that social grants and the social wage remain the government’s biggest spending priority.

"Around 60% of government’s budget is spent on the social wage. The funds we spend on social support and protection are not funds we can say are wasted."

While some NCOP members welcomed government interventions, some have questioned whether the R370 SRD grant was enough to survive.