STORY: South Africa to deepen reforms to drive inclusive growth: president
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 6, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 8, 2025
LENGTH: 00:03:50
LOCATION: CAPE TOWN, South Africa
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the exterior of Cape Town City Hall
2. various of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arriving at Cape Town City Hall and participating the ceremony before delivering the State of the Nation Address
3. various of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stepping onto the podium to deliver the State of the Nation Address, as well as the audience
4. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, South African President
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, South African President
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, South African President

STORYLINE:

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that his government will initiate a fresh wave of reforms to drive inclusive economic growth that benefits all citizens.

Ramaphosa made the remarks when delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA), under the theme "A nation that works, for all," on Thursday evening at the Cape Town City Hall before a joint sitting of both houses of parliament. This marked the first SONA under the Government of National Unity (GNU) formed after the outcomes of the country's 2024 elections.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, South African President
"We have adopted the Medium Term Development Plan, which sets out a clear and ambitious program for the next five years. The actions contained in the Medium Term Development Plan will advance our three strategic priorities: Firstly, to drive inclusive growth and job creation. Secondly, to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living. Thirdly, to build a capable, ethical, and developmental state.
Our most urgent task is to grow our economy so that we can create jobs, reduce poverty, and improve the lives of South Africans.
We want a nation with a thriving economy and an economy that benefits all. To create this virtuous cycle of investment, growth, and jobs, we must lift economic growth to above 3 percent.
Over the coming year, we will initiate a second wave of reform to unleash more rapid and inclusive growth."

While highlighting that South Africa will deepen reforms in several key sectors such as energy, mining, tourism, and public service, he said an immediate focus is to enable national power utility Eskom, logistics group Transnet, and other state-owned enterprises that "are vital to our economy to function optimally."

The president further noted that investment in infrastructure is another priority. 

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, South African President
"To achieve higher levels of economic growth, we are undertaking massive investment in new infrastructure while upgrading and maintaining the infrastructure that we have.
Government will spend more than 940 billion rand (about 50 billion U.S. dollars) on infrastructure over the next three years."

On the international front, Ramaphosa pointed out that South Africa chose "Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability" as the theme of its presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20), which the country assumed on Dec. 1, 2024, to underscore the need for cooperation and partnership among the countries of the world.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, South African President
"For the first time in its history, the G20 is being hosted on the African continent, and this is particularly important following the admission of the African Union as a member of the G20. It is a great opportunity for us to place the needs of our continent and the rest of the Global South more firmly on the international development agenda.
Our G20 presidency is a valuable opportunity for South Africa to advance efforts towards greater global economic growth and sustainable development."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Cape Town, South Africa.
(XHTV)