STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS 2006
SA's 'age of hope': Mbeki
3 February 2006
"South Africa has entered its Age of Hope," said President Thabo Mbeki, pointing to a number of opinion polls that show South Africans are increasingly optimistic about the country's future.
Mbeki was delivering his State of the Nation address at the opening of Parliament in Cape Town on Friday. The address, delivered before a joint sitting of Parliament, is traditionally a chance for the President to reflect on the challenges and priorities for the year ahead.
'Shared destiny'
Mbeki referred to the challenge issued by Nelson Mandela in the first State of the Nation address, delivered in 1994. Mandela said we must "seize the time to define for ourselves what we want to make of our shared destiny."
Mbeki said that millions had indeed taken up this challenge to make South Africa a better place.
"It is because of what these millions did that our people know from their own experience that today is
better than yesterday, and are confident that tomorrow will be better than today."
Referring to a Markinor poll released of the eve of his speech, Mbeki said that "65% of our people believe that the country is going in the right direction. 84% think that our country holds out a happy future for all racial groups. 71% believe that government is performing well.
"First National Bank and the Bureau for Economic Research reported that the consumer confidence index is at its highest in 25 years.
'Age of Hope'
"What all these figures signify is that our people are firmly convinced that our country has entered its Age of Hope.
"They are convinced that we have created the conditions to achieve more rapid progress towards the realisation of their dreams. They are certain that we are indeed a winning nation."
Mbeki said that although the high levels of optimism should be celebrated, we should also focus on what remains to be done
to ensure a better life for all.
Referring again to the Markinor survey, he pointed out that less than half the respondents were satisfied with the level of local government service delivery.
'Unequivocal message'
He said that this was an " that our people expect that we should move faster to address the challenges of poverty, underdevelopment and marginalisation," and "to ensure that the poor in our country share in our growing prosperity."
Mbeki once again confirmed the government's commitment to the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (ASGISA), the plan to boost growth and development to over 6% per year.
"We must harness the Proudly South African spirit," he said, "to accelerate our advance towards the realisation of the important goal of a better life for all.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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