President Cyril Ramaphosa’s tabling of the budget vote was marred with chaos and disorder as EFF members disrupted proceedings, calling the president a thief among other things. Several members were forcibly removed from parliament in a bid by speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to establish some sort of order.

View the chaos and full speech here:

Ramaphosa had a message regarding recent developments including the opening of a criminal case against himself.

“In recent days we have seen those who stand to lose the most from the fight against corruption resorting to dirty tricks and intimidation in a bid to get us to back down.”

He warned, “We will take back our country from criminals.”

Ramaphosa says the main priority of government is to improve the lives of South Africans, and that they must not become distracted.

Throughout his speech, it was clear that getting the country back on track, will rely heavily on partnerships between the public and private sectors across various fields.

Poverty, unemployment and under-development remained major challenges. The rise in fuel, food and utility prices adds to the pressure on South Africans. Last year’s unrest as well as recent flooding in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the North West province has cost the country dearly.

The president said the economy lost R50b during the KZN unrest.

‘Bread-and-butter’ issues mattered the most to South Africans. Citizens want better basic services, jobs and opportunities, said Ramaphosa.

What the South African people want above all else is to see their quality of life improved. They do not care for political squabbles, rivalries, plots, and intrigue.
 
They want better basic services.
 
They want jobs & opportunities to better themselves.https://t.co/B7gyV9Sko9

— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) June 9, 2022

StatsSA revealing that the economy has grown by 1,9% in the first quarter, were some of the signs the president called ‘the green shoots of recovery and of progress’.

The growth has put South Africa back to pre-pandemic levels sooner than anticipated.

The 2021 trade surplus was also the highest, at R448b, since 1987. It created 370 000 jobs and the number of unemployment showed a drop in the first three months of 2022.

Amidst our challenges, there is cause for optimism as our economy is beginning to show positive signs of recovery.
 #PresidencyBudget #BudgetVote2022 https://t.co/B7gyV9Sko9

— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) June 9, 2022

Ramaphosa said that the economic reform agenda will focus on affordable and renewable supply of electricity, efficient freight transport, water security, cheaper mobile data and a visa regime that facilitates tourism and investment.

These reforms aim to achieve an affordable & reliable supply of electricity and efficient freight transport. They aim to achieve long-term water security, cheaper mobile data for all South Africans and a visa regime that facilitates tourism & investment.
 https://t.co/B7gyV9Sko9

— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) June 9, 2022

He said the first three agreements for renewable energy projects have been signed and will see some of the largest hybrid solar and battery storage projects in the world unfolding on home soil.

Transnet availed 16 slots in the freight network to private rail operators in a move to support exports.

Ramaphosa said the electricity shortage will be covered in six ways:

• To improve existing power stations’ performance.
• Ensure that projects from existing procurement programmes are finalised and connected to the grid as soon as possible.
• By accelerating private sector investment in generation capacity under 100MW.
• By Eskom buying power from existing producers.
• By supporting municipalities to buy electricity independently.
• By encouraging businesses and households to invest in small-scale self-generating installations and to feed surplus energy to the grid.

The president said that half of South African adults have been vaccinated and encouraged citizens who have not done so to go and get vaccinated.

Ramaphosa said the fight against corruption is underway with the Special Investigating Unit making strides in getting contracts cancelled and money recovered.

“We will only have the full measure of the work required when we receive the final report from the Chief Justice.”

As we have said before, the Presidency will deliver to Parliament an implementation plan on the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture four months after receipt of the final report.https://t.co/B7gyV9Sko9

— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) June 9, 2022

An implementation plan will be delivered four months after the final report from Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture is received.

The mention of a plan to have South African Sign Language recognised as an official language, drew an applause from the house.