• President Cyril Ramaphosa declared 15 December a national holiday “to be a day of hope, a day of celebration and unity” after the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup for a record-breaking fourth time on Saturday.
• His address on Monday evening compared the adversity the Springboks overcame to the myriad of economic challenges the country faces and offered his administration’s response as “reasons for hope”.
• He admitted that load shedding was caused by the corruption and mismanagement at SOEs, but claimed there is “steady progress” in resolving South Africa’s energy crisis.

The announcement most South Africans were looking out for came towards the end of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 30-minute address resembling a stump speech on Monday evening: the public holiday he promised if the Springboks win the World Cup, will be only on 15 December, the day before Reconciliation Day.

It would only be then, he said, to allow matriculants to focus on their exams, which started on Monday.

Comparing the adversity the Springboks faced in their successful defence of the Rugby World Cup to South Africa’s economic challenges, Ramaphosa sought to portray a hopeful picture of his administration’s responses to these challenges.

“On Saturday night, South Africans watched with pride and joy as our national rugby team, the Springboks, became the world champions for the fourth time since the advent of democracy in our country,” said Ramaphosa.

He added:

“As we confront the many severe challenges in our country, we draw hope and encouragement from the determination and the performance the Springboks and the Proteas have displayed.”

Ramaphosa said as the country reflects on the sporting achievements, it is also time to reflect on the country’s economic recovery post the pandemic “and the further steps that we are taking to revive economic growth and improve the lives of our people.”

READ | ‘People should proceed as normal’ – Presidency clarifies public holiday confusion after Bok win

Ramaphosa claimed the latest Census figures show South Africa “have achieved great feats of human development since the beginning of democracy.”

“Millions of South Africans have been raised out of poverty and now have housing and access to electricity, water, sanitation and other basic needs. Access to health care and education has been greatly expanded.

“Much more still needs to be done to make more progress.”

He noted that this month marked three years since he announced an economic reconstruction and recovery plan to deal with the economic devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The last three years have been extremely challenging. We are emerging from more than a decade of stagnant economic growth, compounded by the impact of the pandemic.”

Ramaphosa added: “We are working to reverse the legacy of the past era of corruption and mismanagement of our state-owned enterprises, which has left us with a persistent energy crisis and an inefficient ports and rail network.”

According to Ramaphosa, there has also been a “range of global and domestic” economic setbacks.

“And yet, there are clear signs that our efforts are showing results. Electricity supply is improving. Jobs are being created. Houses, roads, bridges, and dams are under construction. Law enforcement agencies are cracking down on criminal syndicates. The proceeds of state capture are being recovered.

“These are reasons for hope.”

READ | ‘Stronger Together is a belief that came to life’ – Ramaphosa lauds Springboks 

Ramaphosa said a key element of the reconstruction and recovery plan was to expand social protection and public employment.

“The special SRD Grant, known as the R350 grant, which we introduced in 2020, has kept millions of people out of poverty, however little it is.”

According to Ramaphosa, several significant infrastructure projects are underway.

“These projects are both contributing to greater economic activity and jobs and providing much-needed infrastructure for the growth of our economy and the needs of our people.

“These infrastructure projects range from social housing, road construction, rural bridges, and dam constructions.”

Ramaphosa further claimed that there is “steady progress” in resolving South Africa’s energy crisis and that this, too, is “a reason for hope.”

“Our greatest priority has been to reduce the severity and frequency of load shedding to achieve energy security,” he said a day after load shedding came back with a bang after a few days of respite.

“Over the last few months, there has been a measurable decline in the severity of load shedding.”

Ramaphosa said the energy action plan that he announced in July last year was showing “positive results, giving us greater confidence that we will bring load shedding to an end.”

He said:

According to Ramaphosa, there is also progress in tackling crime and corruption.

“We are seeing results in arrests for illegal mining, cash-in-transit hikes, cable theft, drug smuggling, and similar crimes. Increasing the number of policemen and women will further strengthen our capacity to curb acts of criminality.”

He said the police arrested “several people” for extortion at construction sites and over 3 000 for illegal mining.

“Through the intensive efforts of our law enforcement agencies, dozens of illegal mines, unregulated coal yards, and unregistered second-hand dealers have been shut down.”

“Every arrest made and every length of cable recovered is a reason for hope.”

Ramaphosa said: “We are making progress in the fight against corruption, including bringing those responsible for state capture to justice.”

He said the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate has enrolled 34 state capture and corruption cases involving 205 accused persons.

“Freezing orders of R14 billion have now been granted to the Asset Forfeiture Unit for state capture-related cases. Around R5.4 billion has to date been recovered and returned to the state.

“As recommended by the State Capture Commission, we are putting in place laws, institutions, and practices that reduce the potential for corruption of any sort and on any scale.”

FULL SPEECH | ‘Like the Springboks, we have the determination to overcome any challenge’ – Ramaphosa

However, Ramaphosa conceded that South Africa’s economic challenges are “severe”.

“Despite the progress we are making, poverty, inequality, and unemployment remain high. We continue to face domestic and global pressures, and our economy is growing too slowly for us to overcome the challenges facing our country.”

He said load shedding has constrained economic growth, and “underperformance” of the ports and rail networks affects the country’s ability to get exports to market.

Foreshadowing Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s medium-term budget policy statement on Wednesday, Ramaphosa noted that, for every rand that the government collects in revenue, 18 cents go towards servicing national debt.

“This means that we are now paying more in interest on our national debt than we are budgeting for the police force.

“Ultimately, more rapid and inclusive growth is the only solution to unemployment, poverty, and inequality. Growth is also necessary for the sustainability of public finances. Building on the progress we have already made, government will accelerate the implementation of economic reforms over the next six months.”

He said achieving sustained, inclusive growth requires a stable macroeconomic environment.

“We, therefore, remain absolutely committed to stabilising our levels of debt and adopting a responsible fiscal policy,” said Ramaphosa, adding that Godongwana will provide further details on Wednesday.

“Spending on health, education, policing, and other essential services will be protected as far as possible.

“I am confident that through the actions we are taking now, we will overcome the challenges we face and build a society that works for all of its people,” Ramaphosa said.

“We have much more to do. But like the Springboks, we have the determination and commitment to overcome any challenge.”

Noting that the Springboks arrive back home on Tuesday, Ramaphosa said he understood that people want to celebrate their victory. He called for the country to rally behind the national cricket team currently participating in the Cricket World Cup in India as it did for the Boks.

“I know that many of us want to have a holiday now to celebrate. But we should all agree that we should give our matriculants time to focus on their exams and celebrate afterwards.

“Our sportsmen and women have shown us what is possible. We will succeed, and we will ensure that we leave no one behind,” concluded Ramaphosa, echoing the slogan of his State of the Nation Address in February – “leave no one behind.”