SONA reply: Ramaphosa says GNU working well, punts national dialogue

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa says despite their differing ideological views, the Government of National Unity (GNU) is working well. 

Responding to two days of debate on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the National Assembly on Thursday, Ramaphosa said criticism by opposition parties that there’s been no progress in the country is distortion and denialism. 

Ramaphosa said he expected political parties to provide solutions to the country’s problems - rather than to pander to party positions that seek to divide people along racial and linguistic lines. 

READ: GNU parties praise Ramaphosa's response to Trump's land grab claims

While the debate has not always been conducive to nation building, Ramaphosa said it's to be expected that political parties will want to use a public platform to speak to their supporters. 

But he said the GNU is finding ways to mediate their differences and to focus on the actions to which they’ve committed. 

"These political parties are working well together, in the Government of National Unity, whether people like it or not."

WATCH: SONA debate highlights: NHI, Land Expropriation, youth unemployment, infrastructure

In a veiled reference to the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party which claimed during the debate that South Africa was most successful under former president Jacob Zuma, Ramaphosa had this to say. 

"They know deep down in their hearts they are talking to the wind. This progress is owned by the people of South Africa, and let me be clear, it’s not owned by any individual."

Ramaphosa said a national dialogue would be key to all parties coming together to find solutions to the country’s problems.