After the SONA: questions for President Zuma

The list is far from comprehensive, and is weighted in favour of topics we are familiar with.

Public order police and EFF supporters stand-off in Church Street before the State of the Nation Address by President Zuma. Photo by Armand Hough.

Electricity

The president stated, “The construction of the three new power stations Kusile, Medupi and Ingula, will add ten thousand megawatts of capacity to the national grid. The quest for alternative energy sources is also ongoing.”

How much has been spent until now on the construction of the three power plants?

How much more will be spent on the construction of the three power plants before they are generating 10,000 megawatts?

The president stated, “A total of 2,600 megawatts of hydro-electric capacity will be sourced from the SADC region.” He also said, “With regards to hydro power, the Grand Inga Hydro-electrical Project partnership with the Democratic Republic of Congo will generate over 48,000 megawatts of clean hydro-electricity. South Africa will have access to over 15,000 megawatts.”

By when will this be provided and how much will it cost?

The president gave various examples of additional energy being provided to the national grid. However, this raises the following question:

How many megawatts of Eskom’s total energy capacity is currently out of commission or offline for maintenance?

The president stated, “There are still 3.4 million households in the country without electricity. In the June 2014 SONA, I announced that infrastructure support will be given to specific municipalities in the country.”

Is there a plan and timetable to provide electricity to these unconnected households?

MP Marius Mangoba Redelinghuys was arrested by the police when DA protesters were being removed from the CBD before the State of the Nation Address. Photo by Armand Hough.

Employment

The president stated, “However, the situation is more promising on the jobs front. Two days ago, StatsSA released the employment figures for the last quarter of 2014. The report shows that there are now 15,3 million people who are employed in South Africa. Jobs grew by two hundred and three thousand.”

The president has given statistics for the change in unemployment between the third and fourth quarters of 2014. Please provide the change in unemployment figures between the more representative fourth quarter of 2013 and fourth quarter of 2014. (The answer to this question is in the last paragraph of page v in this Stats SA report.)

The president stated, “The Employment Tax Incentive which was introduced last year directed mainly at the youth, is progressing very well. Two billion rand has been claimed to date by some twenty nine thousand employers, who have claimed for at least two hundred and seventy thousand young people.”

How many previously unemployed youths are now employed as a result of the Employment Tax Incentive? (See Call for youth subsidy to be scrapped).

The president stated, “I announced a target of six million work opportunities over five years last year for the programme. We have thus far created more than eight hundred and fifty thousand (850,000) work opportunities.”

What is the total wage bill paid to the recipients of these 850,000 work opportunities?

A DA supporter is taken in by police in Adderley Street before the State of the Nation Address. by President Zuma. Picture by Armand Hough.

Education

The president said, “Through the Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative which is part of the national infrastructure plan, ninety two (92) new schools have been completed to date and 108 are under construction. About three hundred and forty two (342) schools have received water for the first time. Three hundred and fifty one (351) schools have received decent sanitation while two hundred and eighty eight (288) have been connected to electricity.”

Please provide the names of these schools so that this claim can be verified.

EFF supporters burn ANC T-shirts in Church Street before the State of the Nation Address. Photo by Armand Hough.

Health

The president stated, “Over the past five years, government has scored significant gains in health care.”

It is true that life-expectancy has risen in South Africa over the past five years, primarily as a result of the government’s antiretroviral treatment programme. Nevertheless several important questions need to be answered.

How many people are currently still enrolled and receiving antiretroviral medicines in the public sector?

How many drug stockouts (of any medicines) were there in the public sector in 2014?

What measures are being put in place to reduce the risk of drug stockouts?

The president stated, “This year, we are going to launch a massive programme to turn the tide against tuberculosis (TB), with a special focus on three communities, offenders at Correctional Services facilities, mineworkers and communities in mining towns.”

What measures have already been taken to reduce the risk of contracting TB in prisons following the judgments in the Dudley Lee court case?

How many people became ill with drug-resistant TB in 2014 and how does this compare to 2013?

How much money is the state investing in the development of new TB drugs and diagnostics?

Finally, does President Zuma intend to pay back any of the costs of the development of his Nkandla residence, as recommended by the Public Protector? If yes, how much and by when?