New pres sticks to 2014 goals
2008-09-25 21:20
Cape Town - Newly-elected President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Thursday that South Africa remained on track to halve poverty by 2014, while also stamping down the country's crime rate.
"We stand here to send out a message that government remains on course to deliver on its commitments to the poor, who rely on us daily for the fulfilment of their basic needs and for the provision of important services like health, education, and social security," he said.
"We remain on course to halve unemployment and poverty by 2014. We remain determined to stamp out crime, violence and abuse, whomever it affects and wherever it manifests itself."
He also insisted that South Africa would maintain all its international obligations and continue to pursue efforts to encourage peace across the continent.
"We are here to assure all those on our continent and in the world that we will continue to meet our international obligations," he said. "We will continue to provide whatever assistance we can in the pursuit of peace, security, democracy and development in Africa."