Given his obvious challenges, I would say President Jacob Zuma registered a healthy seven out of ten with his State of the Nation address.
It is increasingly clear that he wishes for a government that works. He nailed it for me when he said, “The triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality persists, despite the progress made. Africans, women and the youth continue to suffer most from this challenge.”
This resonated with me directly because, firstly, we all know how desperate the unemployment situation is – particularly when it comes to the youth.
Secondly, I firmly believe that if you employ a woman, you have effectively ensured that at least six people will have food and shelter.
He added, “We see our role as being to lead and guide the economy and to intervene in the interest of the poor, given the history of our country.”
He also admitted that government has not done as well as it should have in redistributing land taken from African people in 1913.
This remains a contentious issue as the effects of the dispossession are still with us to this day. I however wish he could have spent more time on corruption, the pathetic state of our education system and non-delivery of services.
For a more detailed breakdown of the State of the Nation address see page 16. She has been described as one of the greatest voices of our time. Oprah called her ‘The Voice’ and just about everyone in the music industry regards her as one of the greatest musical talents of her generation.
Just about everyone has their favourite Whitney Houston song. Even after her widely publicised battle with drugs and alcohol she remained a firm favourite. Then last week we tragically lost her – forever this time. Her music shall live on.
Until next week,
Khosi
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