The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has issued a strong statement rejecting the upcoming G20 Summit and criticising the administration of President Cyril Ramaphosa. The party on Wednesday evening said the gathering of global leaders will not meaningfully address the challenges facing South Africans who continue to experience worsening socio-economic conditions.
The party said South Africa is falling behind on several development indicators linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These include poverty reduction, access to quality education, decent work, sustainable infrastructure and efforts to reduce inequality. The party said the current administration has not met key commitments and has failed to provide relief to communities.
National Spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said the summit serves as a platform for symbolic diplomacy that does not translate into meaningful change. He said the government has presented an image of progress internationally while citizens face deteriorating conditions at home.
“While global leaders gather to discuss development and shared prosperity, our people continue to suffer worsening unemployment, deepening poverty and collapsing services,” Ndhlela said. He added that the challenges facing communities are linked to what the party views as systemic failures in governance.
The MK Party said the country is experiencing rising unemployment, energy insecurity, weak state institutions, slow economic growth and increasing inequality. The party said these conditions reflect a loss of direction and a lack of commitment to the needs of citizens.
The party listed areas where it believes progress has stalled, including the energy sector, basic service delivery and public sector capacity. According to the party, these failures are visible in ongoing load shedding, limited access to opportunities and uneven development in both rural and urban communities.
The party said it offers an alternative approach that focuses on rebuilding the state, restoring institutional integrity and promoting development that is inclusive of all South Africans. The party outlined a number of policy areas it would prioritise if elected to govern.
These include rebuilding public administration by eliminating corruption and strengthening professional leadership across state institutions. The party also plans to focus on rapid economic transformation aimed at job creation, industrial development, expansion of small and medium enterprises and increased localisation to boost productive capacity.
Ndhlela said the party would prioritise development programmes that align with the needs of communities. These include improving the quality of education, strengthening healthcare systems, expanding social protection, renewing infrastructure and supporting rural development.
The party also said it would commit to restoring energy security through a diversified and modernised energy mix. The party said stability in the energy sector is essential to ending load shedding and supporting economic growth.
On inequality, the party said it would work to restructure the economy to ensure fair access to land, resources and opportunities. It said meaningful transformation must address long-standing disparities that affect the majority of South Africans.
Ndhlela said the party aims to restore South Africa’s standing internationally through measurable domestic progress rather than statements made at global events. “South Africa should be respected for results achieved at home not for speeches delivered abroad,” he said.
The MK Party said it rejects what it described as a false image of progress presented at international platforms. According to Ndhlela, the country needs a government that delivers on commitments and places citizens at the centre of development.
The party said it remains prepared to present a new governance direction that focuses on rebuilding the country and ensuring that development benefits all communities.
