Ramaphosa calls for unity post Covid-19

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for societal stakeholders to continue supporting government post the Covid-19 outbreak as the country will still be faced with issues of poverty and inequality.

Addressing the nation virtually, Ramaphosa applauded the business sector, labour, non-profit organisations and many other societal stakeholders for their contributions in the fight against Covid-19.

Ramaphosa called for the same spirit of unity and support to be shown post Covid-19 as he pointed out that the country will be faced with grave issues.

“Even as we turn the tide on the coronavirus pandemic, we will still have to confront a contracting economy, unemployment, crime and corruption, a weakened state and other pressing concerns.

“We will have to find new, exceptional and innovative ways to overcome them.

“This is not something government can do alone.

“The collaborative spirit with which government, business, labour and civil society formations have worked to drive the national effort to combat the coronavirus is yet another affirmation of just how far we have come,” he said.

Ramaphosa said before the Covid-19 outbreak the government had its developmental plans which might be set back for many years due to the outbreak.

“Let us keep our arms locked together in a column of defence against this pandemic, as united people.

“Let us use this crisis to reaffirm our resolve to fundamentally change our society.

“Let us emerge from the coronavirus pandemic a better country, a more equal country”.

Ramaphosa also called on the nation to celebrate the country’s greatest leaders as the country marks 26 years of its democratic freedom since 1994.

Likes of Nelson Mandela, Winnie Dikizela Mandela, Steve Bantu Biko with traditional war leaders were among those called by Ramaphosa to be celebrated by the nation.

Ramaphosa said many of the heroes “watered the tree of liberty so we could enjoy its fruit and stand under its shade today”.

He said South Africans should honour their memory and the contribution of those whose names are unknown but whose sacrifices were just as great.

He also applauded work done by the government over the past 26 years in improving the lives of people through several projects.

“We have been building homes, schools, hospitals, clinics and universities. We have been providing water, sanitation and electricity to many South Africans who never had access to such services,” he said.

Ramaphosa, however, pointed out that more still needed to be done to improve people’s lives as poverty and inequality still largely exists.

“In this final decade of the national development plan, we must change the pace of social and economic transformation.

“As a country, we are more than capable of building a more equal society where these rights are realised. For as long as this is delayed, freedom for some is freedom for none,” he said.

He said the Covid-19 outbreak in the country had put a spotlight on the state of poverty and immense inequality existing in society.

Ramaphosa said during the lockdown those “who have” could easily endure the conditions, while it hit the poor the hardest.

“Though we are certainly all braving the same tide, we have not been impacted in the same way by this pandemic. Some people have been able to endure the coronavirus lockdown in a comfortable home with a fully stocked fridge, with private medical care and online learning for their children. For millions others, this has been a month of misery, of breadwinners not working, of families struggling to survive and of children going to bed and waking up hungry.”

He said there was a need for a new society and government must close the gap of inequality and assist the poor.

“This is the time when we should actively work to build a fair and just country.

“In this new society, the provision of services to our people is the foremost priority of government.”

He added that should people comply well with the regulations, the country could have normal Freedom day celebrations next year.

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