ANA reports that the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) said on Sunday that certain aspects of President Cyril Ramaphosa's state-of-the-nation address (Sona) were to be welcomed, but the rest was mainly "business as usual".  

"We welcome his commitment to decisively deal with corruption, inefficiencies, and the backward culture of the government, which is not geared towards servicing the people," Saftu said in a statement.  In particular, Saftu was very pleased by certain steps announced by Ramaphosa relating to compliance with decisions of the Constitutional Court and lower courts – said to be an essential part of the hard won constitutional order that would help fight against a predatory state.  But the federation was not pleased at all about the economic programme Ramaphosa articulated.  "In fact the Sona represents the old wine in new bottles.  It’s the old neoliberal programme that has spectacularly failed to deliver a better life for all for 24 years now," Saftu stated.

• Read this report in full at eNCA
• Read Saftu’s press statement at Saftu online

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