South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday vowed to address the country’s ongoing energy crisis and enhance efforts to fight against crime and corruption, reported The Daijiworld.
Ramaphosa, who is also President of the African National Congress (ANC), made the comments at the party’s annual meeting at Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium in Mangaung, Free State Province on Sunday.
“The ANC calls for Eskom and the government to immediately focus on restoring additional units to operation as quickly as possible,” he said.
According to the South African president, the National Executive Council, which is the ANC’s highest governing body, has decided to prioritize the ongoing energy crisis, ANC renewal initiatives, better service delivery, collaboration with social partners to increase job and investment creation, and the fight against crime and corruption, despite the fact that he is himself embroiled in a corruption scandal.
Notably, the unstable power supply is one of the biggest issues hindering the country’s economic growth.
Ramaphosa said the South African government will work to prioritize investment on infrastructure including structural reform of network industries, electricity, telecommunications, water, rail, aviation, and road infrastructure and connectivity over other expenditure items.
He added that considering the high unemployment rate particularly acute among young people, the government’s grants must be linked to opportunities for jobs, training, self-employment, and other types of economic development.
Ramaphosa promised that the ANC will necessary measures to strengthen the law enforcement agencies and public participation in the restoration of peace and stability across the country.
He stressed that immediate action must be taken to restore the capabilities of law enforcement organizations and other criminal justice system institutions that have been compromised by state capture and corruption.
The South African president called on Parliament to introduce more effective laws to combat racism, saying that racism had no place in the country.
