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President Cyril Ramaphosa says that the country is currently undergoing a “difficult” time, but asks South Africans to help out where possible on Internation Nelson Mandela Day.
He made the comments in his weekly newsletter on Monday as the country celebrated International Mandela Day.
President Ramaphosa is marking the day in Nelson Mandela Bay where he will lead a site inspection of the Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works which is used to transfer water from the Gariep Dam to the water-strained Metro. Thereafter, he will lead a clean-up of the Swartkops River in Veeplaas.
Ramaphosa says this year's Mandela Day letter, comes at a time when the country is battling the worst energy crisis in more than two years that has seen the economy being plunged into stage 6 load shedding.
South Africa has also been gripped by an array of violent spates in communities that have been characterised by mass shootings.
"We are in the midst of an energy crisis that is causing great hardship. A spate of violent crimes is heightening fear and insecurity in communities," he said.
President Ramaphosa said even as the economy was recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, poverty and unemployment was taking a heavy toll on millions who are struggling to make ends meet.
"Corruption has eaten away at our nation’s soul and has severely eroded the social compact between the state and citizens. Nelson Mandela Day is an opportunity to remember that these problems, like so many we have faced before, are not insurmountable," he said.
Ramaphosa added that building a better South Africa will require everyone’s contribution.
(JacarandaFM)
