PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA MUST ENSURE "WE GROW SA TOGETHER"

By Subry Govender Most South Africans have given President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC a clear mandate to embark on a programme of renewal from nearly 10 years of decay, stagnation, corruption, theft, self-aggrandisement and self-enrichment. This became abundantly visible following the announcement of the 2019 election results on Saturday (May 11) night in Pretoria where the IEC declared that the ANC had won nearly 58 percent of the national vote and the majority in eight of the nine provinces. The ANC only failed in the Western Cape. The IEC had declared that the ANC had won a clear majority of the national vote with 230 seats, next came the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 84 seats, EFF 44, Inkatha Freedom Party(IFP) 14 and the FF+ 10 seats. The other parties to gain seats in the National Parliament are: Al Jamama 1, PAC 1, AIC 2, ATM 2, Cope 2, Good 2, UDM 2, NFP 2 and ACDP 4. The voting patterns showed that many voters had split their ballots. While they voted for President Ramaphosa and the ANC in the national ballot, at the same time many cast their ballots for other parties in the provincial ballots. For instance, in KwaZulu-Natal it has been found that while many voted for the ANC nationally, they voted for either the IFP, DA or EFF in the provincial ballot. The victory of the ANC in the national poll and in eight out nine of the provinces is an indication that the most of the voters want President Ramaphosa to ensure that "we grow SA together" in a non-racial democracy. Twenty five years ago, South Africans gave President Nelson Mandela the political power to free them from racism and economic oppression. Now in 2019, South Africans have once again given their overwhelming trust to President Ramaphosa and the ANC in order to overcome the machinations of the previous regime and to bring about "a new dawn" for all people. While the people have placed their country "in safe hands", they, however, want President Ramaphosa to ensure that he must "grow our economy" and "strengthen our non-racial democracy". In this regard, President Ramapgosa and the ANC must keep to their commitment that there would be: * "More jobs, more decent jobs, * An economy for all, * Quality Health for all, * Security and comfort for all, * Safe communities and safe lives, * A skills revolution, * Capable, honest government, and * a Nation united in diversity”. President Ramaphosa must also keep to his commitment that "South Africa belongs to all who live in it" and that he would help to "bring about a new dawn" by: • Growing the economy, • fighting corruption, • sharing the country's wealth equitably, • a capable state, • effective education and skills development, • and • social cohesion. (Not social coercion) These are the major issues (listed by the ANC in one of their election manifestos) affecting our country and the people are looking forward to President Ramaphosa to navigate South Africa away from the theft, wasteful expenditure and inefficiencies of the recent past. President Ramaphosa gave an indication of his intended moves to bring about a “new dawn” when he addressed the political parties, invited guests, international observors and IEC officials at the gathering on Saturday night. He emphasised the concerned of most South Africans when he said the people had given the elected leaders a firm mandate to build a better South Africa for all. “Let us now work together – black and white, women and men, young and old – to build a South Africa that truly belongs to all who live in it, one which is united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous.” Most South Africans want a better future for all and President Ramaphosa must lead the way by appointing a trimmed down Cabinet that will work with him to bring about the "new dawn". The new Ramaphosa Cabinet must reflect people who will be committed to the true values and principles of the Mandelas, Sisulus, Tambos, Kathradas and countless others who sacrficied their lives for a non-racial and democratic South Africa. Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com (May 11 2019)