South Africa: New administration must turn promises into action

The new administration must demonstrate its ability to provide basic services and uphold human rights for all residents of South Africa, Amnesty International South Africa said following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address at the opening of Parliament.

“With this new government, we expect to see results. People in South Africa are tired of rhetoric and the ongoing struggle to secure their basic rights from the state and government officials who are supposed to ensure these rights are met,” Amnesty International South Africa Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed said.

“Service delivery in South Africa has been severely compromised by corruption, poor policy implementation, and neglect of key infrastructure, harming citizens who are constitutionally entitled to have their basic needs met and to live with dignity. The era of impunity must end. We demand real accountability from President Ramaphosa and his government of national unity. We want to see tangible improvements in people’s lives and the realisation of everyone’s rights.” 

President Ramaphosa highlighted priorities for the seventh administration during his address and made a number of promises around economic development, inclusivity, maintenance of infrastructure, tackling poverty, unemployment and education and the fight against gender-based violence to name a few. 

He said the Cabinet would put together a medium-term development plan, which would translate these priorities into a detailed plan and that the plan would set out the full strategic plan with clear goals and specific measurable objectives. 

“The president’s address hit all the right notes, but action speaks louder than words. We must hold the president accountable to his statements and as much as there will be a plan the real test will be in the implementation,” Shenilla Mohamed said. 

In the run up to elections, Amnesty International South Africa put together its Human Rights Manifesto focusing on 10 issues crucial for political parties and candidates to commit to, to ensure that the rights of all those who live in South Africa are upheld. 

Amnesty International South Africa will continue to track these human rights issues and put pressure on the government to uphold these rights for everyone living in the country so that everyone is able to live with dignity. 

“Elections may be over, but the commitment to a better life for all and the realisation of human rights in South Africa must remain steadfast. We urge all ministers, irrespective of which political party they represent, and Members of Parliament to prioritise human rights in the new administration and fulfil their promises,” Shenilla Mohamed said.