Ramaphosa uses story of ‘Tintswalo' to illustrate progress during SONA
President Cyril Ramaphosa managed to deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) without any interruptions or points of order on Thursday evening.
It was the president’s final SONA before the general elections, scheduled to take place later this year.
All the 44 EFF MPs were absent from the house, making it possible for Ramaphosa to deliver his speech without any interruptions.
The red berets decided to boycott the event after the Western Cape High Court upheld the suspension of six of the party’s MPs.
EFF leader Julius Malema, his deputy Floyd Shivambu, Marshall Dlamini, Sinawo Tambo, Vuyani Pambo, and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi were suspended after interrupting Ramaphosa last year, asking about the Phala Phala dollars.
Ramaphosa's address started on time for the first time in six years, with all MPs in the house seated.
The president used the figure of 'Tintswalo', a child of democracy, who has grown up in a society that was worlds apart from the South Africa of her parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.
"She grew up in a society governed by a constitution rooted in equality, the rule of law, and affirmation of the inherent dignity of every citizen.
“Tintswalo, and many others born at the same time as her, were beneficiaries of the first policies of the democratic state to provide free health care for pregnant women and children under the age of six," said Ramaphosa.
He told the house that Tintswalo’s formative years were spent in a house provided by the state, one of the millions of houses built to shelter the poor.
"Tintswalo grew up in a household provided with basic water and electricity, in a house where her parents were likely to have lived without electricity before 1994.
“Tintswalo was enrolled in a school in which her parents did not have to pay school fees, and each school day she received a nutritious meal as part of a programme that today supports 9 million learners from poor families," he added.
Ramaphosa, cognizant of the looming elections, used the figure to demonstrate the democratic government's achievements in the last 30 years.
The president’s efforts were, however, derided by many on social media, with most asking if ‘Tintswalo’ should be a representation of the future of South Africa.
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