After two days of debate on Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address, the president urged elected representatives to work together “like beavers building a dam” — with urgency, unity, and quiet determination — to create something strong and enduring.
Addressing Parliament on Thursday, Ramaphosa emphasised that lawmakers have significant work ahead, calling for faster implementation, renewed energy, and collective action to drive progress “together in unity”.
Speaking to VOC, political analyst Professor Dirk Kotze reflected on the president’s analogy, describing it as a call for collective nation-building.
“He used that example to suggest that this is the time to build South Africa — to come together, work as a team, and address the pressing challenges facing the country. It’s about building something collectively in a way that hasn’t necessarily happened before. Some may see it as an overstatement or an unusual analogy, but it reflects President Ramaphosa’s leadership style,” Kotze explained.
Kotze also highlighted persistent weaknesses within local government structures, particularly in planning and implementation.
“At the local government level, there is often a lack of direction, urgency, and proper planning. In many cases, government is not fully playing its expected role,” he noted.
He added that the president’s emphasis on public-private cooperation — particularly through initiatives such as Operation Vulindlela — underscores the need for stronger partnerships between the state and the private sector.
“The concept behind Operation Vulindlela is essentially about public-private cooperation, creating a working relationship in which both sectors collaborate to drive reform and improve service delivery,” Kotze said.
Listen to the full interview with Prof Kotze below:
VOC News
Photo:@PresidencyZA/X
