Guests lay out expectations ahead of OPA

As the sun sets in Cape Town and momentum starts building towards President Cyril Ramaphosa's delivery of the Opening of Parliament Address (OPA), guests have been laying out their expectations on what the President will deliver in his speech. Anticipation is in the air as the President is about to reveal what the seventh administration - made up of the Government of National Unity - has in store for South Africans. Guests speaking to SAnews laid out a variety of issues that they expect the President to address. Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemi Majodina, said: 'We're waiting for him to address water issues in the country and job creation. I also expect him to address how municipalities that are struggling to provide services will be assisted because our people have told us that they have had enough.' Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams said: 'I'm expecting the President to outline the priorities of the Government of National Unity, which already are found in the Statement of Intent that the parties signed. 'At the centre of it is how do we make South Africa work… creating more jobs, supporting small businesses and ensuring that we provide better services to our people.' Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba said she hopes President Ramaphosa will address how rural economies can be developed for the benefit of those who live in those areas. 'People are following economic opportunities and people are following jobs. So we are looking at an inclusive economy. The President should address some of those issues on how would we unlock investments and investments must not just come as commitments. 'They must come with growth and development. Once there is development, jobs will start to come in and when people get jobs where they are staying, there's no need to migrate,' Ramathuba said. Former Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise, called on the President to explain to South Africans how participants in the Government of National Unity have come together for the better ment of the country. 'I expect that the President will bring together those in government. I also expect that he will be able to satisfy us that there is cohesion; there is finding of each other [on] the different strengths that are now in Cabinet and that he will pull them together on behalf of us as South Africans,' Modise said. Source: South African Government News Agency