Cyril: Let's work together

PLANS: PLEDGE TO TURN SA INTO A CONSTRUCTION SITE

- Eric Naki

He slams red tape as stumbling block to growth, job creation .

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government would dedicate the next five years to actions that would ad vance three strategic priorities: to drive inclusive growth and job creation, to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living and to build a capable, ethical and developmental state.

"We have placed inclusive economic growth at the centre of the work of the government of national unity," Ramaphosa said.

Opening parliament in Cape Town last night, Ramaphosa pledged to turn the country into a construction site.

"From our largest metros to our deepest rural areas, we have a clear intention to turn our country into a construction site, as roads, bridges, houses, schools, hospitals and clinics are built, as broadband fibre is laid and as new power lines are installed," he said.

"We must work to engender a culture of maintenance of public infrastructure, and dedicate resources and establish systems to ensure this."

He attacked red tape as the stumbling block to growth and job creation.