Mbeki's speech 'disappointing'
2004-02-06 13:42
Donwald Pressly and Lynn Bolin
Cape Town - Most opposition politicians said President Thabo Mbeki's speech at the opening of parliament was disappointing.
Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon said the speech was disappointing, and said nothing about the real problems people faced in South Africa.
"He did not address the real failures of crime, unemployment and HIV/Aids, which are the three key areas where we believe a change of courseis necessary.
"Also there was complete silence on Zimbabwe, which is a failure of leadership that is starting to define our commitment to democratic principles."
Government plans to expand the economy will come to nothing unless the issues of Aids and crime are addressed, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said.
Buthelezi criticised President Thabo Mbeki for not saying anything substantial about Aids in his state of the nation address.
"Aids is public enemy number one. Our whole future will come to nought unless it is addressed. Aids is such a threat to everything that we are trying to do," he told journalists outside parliament. He was disappointed that Mbeki lumped the virus together with other diseases.
Patricia De Lille, Leader of the Independent Democrats, said she was "glad he reminded us of the vision of Nelson Mandela, but he failed to show a vision of the future. It was also shocking that only one reference to HIV/Aids was made."
Bantu Holomisa, leader of the United Democratic Movement, said there was nothing new in what the president said. "This was the problem - when he said there would be no changes in the policies of 1994, implying that we will still witness such words as downsizing, retrenchments and unemployment. He failed dismally to address the issue of unemployment."
Peter Mulder, the leader of the Freedom Front, was also disappointed in that "problems are getting bigger with unemployment and crime getting worse and he didn't mention this. Mostly the speech was about the past, not the future. Also he acted as if Zimbabwe didn't exist, there was not enough on crime, either."
The leader of the National Action party, Cassie Aucamp, said "it was really a 'State of the Company' speech-nothing exciting or new. But I must say that he didn't use the speech for electioneering."
Former President FW de Klerk said that it was a very dignified speech. "I welcome the fact that the president concentrated on the milestones in our history and absolutely refrained from petty politics." -I-Net Bridge-Sapa