S/Africa President unveils party’s plan to ease financial woes

By Mark Ogagan

South Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa presented the ANC’s vision for the next five years during Saturday’s manifesto launch at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, highlighting the party’s focus on addressing the financial burdens experienced by South Africans.

At the event, President Ramaphosa outlined the party’s commitment to tackling the cost of living. He also addressed the challenges faced by workers, the unemployed, and the middle class.

“We will take steps to make everyday life more affordable for workers, unemployed, and the middle class by addressing key needs like food, housing, healthcare, and energy and wages,” President Ramaphosa stated.

Central to the ANC’s agenda is the continuation and expansion of subsidized basic services. This ensures vital resources like water and housing remain accessible to marginalised communities

Moreover, the party aims to extend support to indigent households through initiatives such as the provision of rooftop solar panels.

“We will continue to roll our roof-top solar to indigent households,” President Ramaphosa affirmed.

Healthcare reform is a key aspect of the ANC’s plan, focusing on enhancing services. They aim to ensure affordability through the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.

“We will strengthen the health services and implement the NHI to make health care affordable for all,” President Ramaphosa highlighted.

In addressing economic disparities, the ANC pledges to incrementally raise the National Minimum Wage annually while intensifying efforts to enforce compliance among employers.

“As required by law we will Increase the National Minimum Wage every year, and as and monitor implementation by employers,” President Ramaphosa assured.

Furthermore, President Ramaphosa underscored the party’s commitment to providing assistance to those in need, stating, “We will strengthen income support, through existing social grants, and utilise the Social Relief of Distress Grant as a mechanism towards phasing in the basic income support grant.”