President Ramaphosa Calls 2025 A Year Of "Great Hope"

President Cyril Ramaphosa urged all South Africans to unite and work together for a better future in the New Year, during the New Year's Eve address on Tuesday afternoon.

"As we can embark on a New Year, I call on each and every South African to be part of the journey towards a better future for all. I wish you all a peaceful and prosperous New Year in 2025," the president said, SA News reported.

Ramaphosa described 2024 as a year of "change and progress." He noted that this year, South Africans celebrated the progress made in building a society based on freedom, equality, and human rights, especially marking 30 years of freedom in April.

The president recalled that on May 29, South Africa held its seventh democratic elections peacefully. The people voted for their chosen representatives, expressing their concerns, hopes, and wishes.

The president pointed out that through their votes, South Africans called for political parties to set aside differences and work together for the country's benefit. As no single party won an outright majority, the message was clear, and the elected representatives responded accordingly.

Ramaphosa explained that a Government of National Unity (GNU) was formed, bringing together political parties from across the spectrum. This GNU - comprised of 10 parties - is focused on growing an inclusive economy and creating jobs, as outlined in the Statement of Intent it adopted.

The president added that the GNU is also committed to reducing poverty and lowering the cost of living. All the parties in the GNU are working to strengthen the government's ability to provide services to the people.

The outcomes of the May 2024 elections and the formation of the GNU have marked the beginning of a new era for South Africa, one full of promise. The economy is gradually improving, more South Africans are finding jobs and inflation is decreasing, making essential goods more affordable for households.

Ramaphosa mentioned that focused efforts, such as Operation Shanela, have led to decisive action by law enforcement against organized crime, illegal mining, extortion, and other priority crimes. He also highlighted that the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) has been given strong attention.

The president further said that the criminal justice system has been strengthened, and support for survivors of GBV has improved. However, the main focus remains on preventing GBV, especially against young girls and women.

In collaboration with civil society, he called on men and boys to take a leading role in changing attitudes and behaviors toward women and girls in the country.

"As a people, our unity, determination and resilience has seen us through hard and difficult times. Just as this has been a year of great change, we look to the next year with great hope. We will be embarking on a National Dialogue, bringing all South Africans together to develop a common vision for the country," he said.

Ramaphosa announced that in 2025, South Africa will host the first-ever G20 Summit on African soil. Through its leadership of the G20, South Africa will focus on promoting solidarity, equality, and sustainable development, which will positively affect people in many countries worldwide.