President Cyril Ramaphosa says SA won't be bullied over policies
Image: Se-Anne Rall
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday used his ninth State Of the Nation Address to take aim at US President Donald Trump following the latter's recent comments about the state of South Africa.
"We are a resilient people. We will not be bullied. We will stand together as a united nation. We will speak with one voice in defence of our national interest, our sovereignty and our constitutional democracy. By staying true to our values, by harnessing our unique strengths and endowments, and by forging a common purpose, we can turn these trying circumstances to our advantage and propel our country forward," Ramaphosa said.
"As South Africans, we stand for peace and justice, for equality and solidarity. We stand for non-racialism and democracy, for tolerance and compassion. We stand for equal rights for women, for persons with disabilities and for members of the LGBTQI+ community We stand for our shared humanity, not for the survival of the fittest," Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa's comments come after Trump criticised SA's Land Expropriation bill.
In a post on social media, Trump claimed that SA was confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY".
He further said he would cut funding to SA until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!
Donald Trump's comments on the Land Expropriation bill
Image: Donald Trump
Trump previously announced that he was halting the USAID programme for 90 days.
This has had a devastating impact on individuals who rely on this treatment.
Ramaphosa said government is concerned about the potential impact of the decision by the United States government to suspend some of its funding for HIV and TB programmes in African countries for 90 days.
"This funding accounts for about 17 percent of our country's HIV spend. We have been able to provide funding from our fiscus for our HIV and TB programmes over the years.
"We are looking at various interventions to address the immediate needs and ensure the continuity of essential services," he said.
seanne.rall@iol.co.za
IOL
Related Topics: