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Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the traditional state of the nation address to parliamentarians on Thursday evening. An intervention that opens the parliamentary session. His speech cataloged past and future measures taken by the South African government.
With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Roman Song
The speech was held exceptionally in the town hall of Cap, after the fire which ravaged the National Assembly in early January. The move to this new place has allowed President Ramaphosa to seize this symbol and to make a speech on resilience: despite the crises that the country is going through, South Africa is always recovering. It must be said that the year was particularly complicated for the South Africans.
Despite record unemployment, riots, new corruption scandals, the Omicron variant, then the burning of the National Assembly, Cyril Ramaphosa has promised clarity after a very disturbed year 2021. “ Indeed, we are engaged in a battle for the soul of this country. But we will succeed, there is no doubt about it. »
Ramaphosa announced the extension for an additional year of the social assistance released during the pandemic, i.e. 20 euros per month. He also gave the green light to the industrialization of hemp and cannabis cultivation, which could benefit rural communities. ” She can create more than 130 000 new jobs. This will benefit a large number of our fellow citizens, especially in regions where it is already widely cultivated. »
The South African president also hailed the opening of the continental free trade area as an opportunity for South African businesses. ” The market is wide open for South African companies to face trade with other countries on the continent. »
The optimism displayed by Cyril Ramaphosa has not always convinced. It was on his fight against corruption that he was the most heckled.