Ramaphosa's reckoning with ANC's failures

PRESIDENT'S JANUARY STATEMENT

- KAMOGELO MOICHELA

THE event in the North West saw a strong turnout of ANC supporters.

(Supplied)

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa's January 8 statement delivered in the North West at the weekend was unusually candid, bordering on confessional of failures.

For the first time in years, the ANC leader openly acknowledged what millions of South Africans have long lived with - that the governing party's failures in service delivery, governance, economic growth and job creation have alienated communities and hollowed out public trust.

Över the past five January 8 statements, Ramaphosa has returned to the same core promises: fixing local government, ending load shedding, restoring water security, creating jobs, fighting corruption and renewing the ANC.

Progress has been uneven at best. On electricity, there is a measurable improvement.

After years of crisis, Eskom's operational stability has improved, and private power generation has accelerated.