Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
14 February 2024 | 14:00 CAT
2 min read

Both chambers of Parliament have commenced deliberations on the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). However, the emerging political party, Rise Mzansi, asserts that the debate is predominantly theatrical and driven by an agenda of cheap political point-scoring, with insufficient attention directed towards the welfare of the South African people.

The political leader of Rise Mzansi, Songeszo Zibi, emphasised that Parliamentary debates should be characterised by seriousness, a comprehensive understanding of the people’s concerns, and the presentation of viable solutions to address them.

In a media statement released yesterday, Zibi conveyed that while maintaining a cautious stance, it is imperative for President Cyril Ramaphosa to outline how his government intends to finance its programs. Additionally, he stressed the significance of evaluating the capability and calibre of government leadership and skills, advocating for new leaders to navigate the nation out of its current crisis.

Zibi has called upon the president to provide concrete solutions to address some of the most urgent challenges confronting families and communities nationwide. These issues include addressing hunger, tackling problems within Eskom and Transnet, ensuring school safety, combating crime, and addressing the climate crisis.

Rise Mzansi’s Chief Organizer, Makashule Gana, shared insights on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) with Radio Islam.

“We need new leaders, both in government and opposition. During the recent debate, it seemed like everyone had forgotten the major challenges facing South Africa. Citizens are crying out for solutions to problems such as hunger, safety, education, and load shedding. Unfortunately, many debaters focused more on scoring cheap political points than centering their discussion on the people of South Africa,” he said.

Gana emphasised that urging fellow South Africans to remain passive at this juncture is an option we cannot afford.

“We have a responsibility to rescue and rebuild our country. To stop South Africa from sinking, we need new leaders who prioritize being connected with the people, receive direct mandates from them, and ensure accountability and transparency,” he said.

Gana affirmed that his party is not inclined to make lofty promises of overnight miracles.

“We accept that the rot that has set in this country will take a long time to be resolved, but we are prepared to work side by side with South Africans with honesty and integrity. For Rise Mzansi, the focus lies on executing fundamental tasks correctly and prioritising service to the people over personal interests,” he added.

ANC chief whip, Pemmy Majodina, has criticised opposition parties for their pessimistic outlook, who argued that if they were to assume power, poverty and inequality would exacerbate, with wealth accruing only to a select few.

The joint debate on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the President’s response to the debate scheduled for Thursday.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany and Rise Mzansi’s Chief Organizer, Makashule Gana, here.