As South Africans prepare for 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the country to unite and work together in the New Year to tackle SA’s socio-economic challenges.
Ramaphosa’s New Year message
In his New Year’s message on Saturday, Ramaphosa said 2022 was a difficult year as South Africans continue to suffer the hardships caused by persistent unemployment, poverty and inequality.
On top of all this, the president said that citizens must deal with the rising cost of living, natural disasters and crises to reduce the burden.
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Despite all these challenges, Ramaphosa said South Africans “still hold on to the belief in the greatness of our nation” to move forward and move forward.
He urged citizens to enter 2023 with courage and tenacity, and to “keep going and keep trying, no matter how hard it is”.
Read the president’s full New Year’s message below:
Dear South Africans,
In a few hours we will ring in the new year.
This is the time to make a fresh start in some aspect that affects our lives and make resolutions for the better.
It is also a time of hope – hope for a better life for ourselves, and for a better life for the country we love.
2022 is a difficult year. This is a year in which South Africans continue to suffer from unemployment, poverty and persistent inequality.
On top of all this, we have to deal with the rising cost of living and the energy crisis.
We also bear the burden of losing loved ones to some tragedy.
There are tragic events that destroy lives and livelihoods.
These events include floods, fatal vehicle accidents, deaths in stalls, dam wall collapses, drownings, fires in informal settlements and most recently, the explosion of a fuel tanker in Boksburg in Gauteng that killed at least 34 people.
Several young people have died during the early summer season, turning what was meant to be a time of joy and celebration into a time of sorrow.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the bereaved families.
May God bless and comfort all the families who have suffered loss due to this tragic incident.
With all that has happened in the past year, we must remain optimistic and hopeful. Because hope does not last forever in the human breast.
Just as we go through the stormy phase of country life, the storm will eventually pass.
Two years ago when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, I said we would overcome it. And we have.
The Covid-19 pandemic no longer defines how we live.
We have been able to protect the most vulnerable communities from the worst effects.
Our economy is growing again and is now bigger than before the pandemic.
Last year, about 1.5 million new jobs were created.
The President’s Employment Stimulus, which provides opportunities for more than a million citizens, is growing and growing.
We improve the business operating environment and attract new investment.
We carried out reforms in port and railway operations, and in the telecommunications, water and electricity sectors.
We are working hard to end the load shedding crisis.
We are increasing the amount of renewable energy on the grid
The benefits of this work may not be felt immediately, but we must hope that these efforts will reduce the need to reduce the burden until it is no longer necessary.
In the past year, there have been milestones in the fight against corruption.
The State Arrest Commission submitted its final report and the government has drawn up plans to implement its recommendations.
There have been several arrests, prosecutions and convictions for corruption and cases related to state capture.
Large amounts of stolen funds have been recovered by state-owned companies like Eskom and Transnet.
Just as the new year is a time for a fresh start in our personal lives, so it should be for the life of the nation.
South Africans want to see our country’s electricity challenges resolved.
They want to see tougher action against corruption.
They want to live with dignity and have a job.
They want to live in safety, freedom and peace.
We must build on the important work we have done in the past year to determine our actions in the next.
We must intensify the fight against poverty and inequality, unemployment, crime and gender-based violence.
This is what South Africans want and deserve.
Despite the challenges of today and tomorrow, South Africans still believe in the greatness of the nation.
He is determined to see our country progress and prosper.
As we look ahead to the year ahead, we pay tribute to the many outstanding South Africans who have served our nation.
We pay tribute to lifeguards, emergency workers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters, nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers.
We pay tribute to the educators, who have worked hard to restore the classroom as a place of learning, and to the students themselves who have given their best in the center of learning.
We thank the hard-working staff, businesses and suppliers who keep our streets clean, who transport passengers, and provide a variety of services for our homes.
We praise the farmers and farm workers who produce food.
We thank those who opened their hearts to the victims of the tragedy and helped wherever and however they could.
Our humanity and unity in times of adversity is what makes us who we are.
Let us enter 2023 with the courage and tenacity we are known for.
Let’s keep going and keep trying, even if it’s hard.
By working together, we can and will rebuild our country. We can and will improve the economy and improve the lives of the people.
Wherever you are at this time, I hope you are all blessed with happiness, prosperity, and peace.
I thank you.
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