The DA’s interim leader, John Steenhuisen said in his new year’s message that “2019 was not always an easy year.”
According to Steenhyuisen, “Our economy was under immense pressure and many South Africans felt the pinch. As always, it is those who can least afford it who were worst affected. Poor South Africans – and particularly those without work – had to deal with much hardship this year.”
He urged South Africans to use the new year’s period as a time of reflection.
“We can do so much better. It is well within our reach to turn our struggling economy around and play to our strengths as a country, but only if we are prepared to face the tough questions and make the big calls,” said Steenhuisen.
He also hoped that the situation at Eskom can be turned around, one he blames on corruption and mismanagement.
“2020 has to be the year in which we tackle this issue head-on and make the tough decisions that we all know need to be made,” said Steenhuisen.
The EFF is coming into the new year fighting with calls for the public to comment on the Draft Land Expropriation Amendment Bill, saying it has been published without adequate publicity by Parliament.
The Congress of the People (Cope), which was reduced to only 2 seats in Parliament in the 2019 national and provincial elections, said in its new year’s message that it hoped unemployment would be addressed as a matter of urgency in 2020.
It also focussed on corruption and land, and what it calls the man-made crisis at Eskom and other state-owned entities (SOEs).
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