President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to return to the National Assembly on Tuesday and Wednesday to debate the State of the Nation Address (Sona).
While Ramaphosa’s Sona was marred by chaos and drama when members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) led by Julius Malema stormed the stage, his speech made many people wonder if the Government really has a plan to solve the country’s problems and the leadership among them is the load shedding crisis.
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Speaking to the media on Sunday, the President’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the debate will be a platform for all political parties to respond to Sona where the President expressed the government’s vision to ensure that 2023 is a better year than 2022.
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“The President will then respond to the debate on Thursday and emphasize the key contributions by Members of Parliament and clarify the issues that arose from his speech last Thursday,” Magwenya said.
African Union (AU) Summit.
The President is also expected to attend the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) from February 17-19 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“African political leadership will meet under the economic focus theme, ‘Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement’ in a year that marks the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the 20th anniversary of the continuous creation of the African Union in 2002 as the successor to the OAU.
“The President will also chair the AU Peace and Security Conference – on the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).”
According to Magwenya, the President also stated that our focus will be collaboration on sustainable development, just energy transition, industrialization and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“South Africa, together with its neighbors in the Southern African Customs Union, will complete our industrial offer in the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Once fully operational, Continental Free Trade will provide an unprecedented opportunity to deepen African economic integration, grow the national economy, and open new frontiers and markets for South African companies.
Armed forces day
Ramaphosa will on February 21, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the South African Armed Forces, celebrate Armed Forces Day in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.
“This is an opportunity to honor the men and women who have died in the line of patriotic duty at home or on international missions.
“Furthermore, Armed Forces Day is an opportunity to expand the imagination of South African youth in choosing a career path and exercising their passion and abilities,” said Magwenya.
National budget
Ramaphosa is also expected to attend the Budget Speech to be delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on February 22.
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“This is an important engagement in our political calendar that emphasizes and provides the necessary resources for the plans presented in Sona.”
House of Traditional and Khoisan leaders
On February 23, Ramaphosa will hold the annual Opening of the House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders (NHTL).
The NHTL is a body made up of traditional leaders who are delegates from the South African Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders, who represent the Provincial Houses at the national level.
The mandate of the House of Representatives, among others, is to promote the role of traditional leadership within the constitutional dispensation, to promote peace, stability and community cohesion.
“The House also considers the Parliamentary Bill referred by the Secretary and participates in intergovernmental structures and advises the national government and makes recommendations on any matter that the government needs,” Magwenya said.
Ugandan country visit
Ramaphosa will host a state visit to Pretoria in February
According to Magwenya, Ramaphosa will host Museveni with the aim of strengthening political, economic and cultural ties between South Africa and the Republic of Uganda.
“South Africa and Uganda enjoy a long historical relationship dating back to the struggle against apartheid. Uganda hosted and trained South African anti-apartheid activists and freedom fighters in the late 1980s. Political and economic relations between South Africa and Uganda have improved since in 1994.
The South Africa-Uganda Joint Commission also seeks to strengthen and expand bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries, consolidate political, economic and social cooperation, and monitor the implementation of signed agreements and Memorandums of Understanding.
The Commission is also tasked with exploring new areas of economic cooperation, trade and investment, including opportunities for bilateral commercial cooperation, joint ventures and possible collaborative projects provided by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.