MK Party views SONA as a performative political exercise

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party views the State of the Nation Address (SONA) as a performative political exercise, rather than a true reflection of the state of the country

Interim parliamentary leader Des van Rooyen said his party is not holding its breath that this year’s address will be much different from any of the previous ones delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

It will be the second SONA that Ramaphosa will deliver on behalf of the Government of National Unity (GNU), and in which he will have to recognise the work done by ministers from other political parties.

The MK Party added that SONA has ceased to function as a credible instrument of national planning, accountability or state coordination.

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Van Rooyen expects Ramaphosa to, once again, make much of Operation Vulindlela when he delivers the SONA.

This is the government’s reform programme to get State-owned entities to function optimally.

“We can tell you now. That Vulindlela was not meant for our people, because our people are still unemployed, and if there’s any changes in the unemployment figures, they are close to nothing.”

Van Rooyen said the government’s developmental agenda remains reliant on apartheid-era infrastructure and is failing to create much-needed employment.

“National Treasury is not moving an inch to do away with austerity funding. How are you going to build infrastructure if austerity is at the centre of your allocation?”

Van Rooyen said the government is also failing to aggressively use its assets to generate more revenue for the State.