Steenhuisen touts GNU progress but demands faster reforms

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen says his party’s participation in the Government of National Unity (GNU) has been a force for good.

But he says while there are reasons to celebrate the turning tide, including an economy slowly on the uptick, there’s no room for complacency.

He was responding to the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Tuesday, in a speech in which he sought to balance his party’s political views with his ministerial portfolio.

READ: Steenhuisen announces massive vaccine shipment in fight against foot-and-mouth disease

DA leader John Steenhuisen says the GNU has achieved real and tangible progress, which he ascribes to his party’s push for reform.

He says while indicators such as inflation, investor confidence, and economic growth are important signals of a government at work, projected growth rates fall far short of what’s required to lift millions out of poverty and to create jobs for the youth.

"We have turned the corner, yes—but we are nowhere near the destination. That is why I say clearly and unequivocally today: we must move faster. Much faster. We need urgency now."

Steenhuisen has appealed for the further unbundling and privatisation of state companies to speed up investment.

He’s also once again challenged the African National Congress (ANC) on its Black Economic Empowerment policies, which the DA disagrees with.

"Replace restrictive BEE policies with genuine broad-based empowerment that includes skills, ownership, and opportunity for all, not just a connected few. We must replace failing race-based empowerment frameworks with ones that tackle poverty."

Steenhuisen says cadre deployment must also be outlawed, particularly in local government, where officials must be held accountable for failing to provide services.