New Administration To Prioritize Provision Of Basic Services: Ramaphosa

The seventh administration will work on expanding basic services to those who still lack access and ensure these services are reliable and affordable, according to a statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In his response to the debate during the Opening of Parliament Address on Monday, the president said this will involve improving local government efficiency to meet its important responsibilities.

He noted that South Africa has made progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for basic services. Currently, 84% of households have access to piped water, 71% have decent sanitation and 94% have electricity.

Ramaphosa said that Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa is committed to ensuring all municipalities get the administrative, technical and financial support they need. This shows the seventh administration's clear goal to improve how municipalities operate.

The president stated that the government has made significant progress in strengthening democracy over the past 30 years by protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms. The parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU) agree on the importance of reinforcing South Africa's constitutional democracy and the rule of law.

"We will continue to exert our every effort to safeguard the independence of the judiciary, freedom of the media and the work of the institutions supporting democracy. We continue to entrench gender equality across all facets of society, and in promoting the full participation in society of persons with disabilities," the president said, SA News reported.

He added, "We have enacted into law the Gender-Based Violence And Femicide (GBVF) Council, which will oversee and coordinate GBV programs across government and in partnership with all stakeholders."

Ramaphosa highlighted that a key focus will be on women's economic empowerment and using the government's policy to allocate 40% of public procurement to women-owned businesses. He also mentioned that South Africa is a leader in advancing the rights of the LGBTQI+ community.

The president noted that these efforts are crucial to the country's human rights culture but also acknowledged that there are still challenges to address.

Earlier this week, the president signed the Pension Funds Amendment Bill, which updates several pension laws to introduce a new two-pot retirement system aimed at improving retirement savings.