Jacob Zuma has a knack for making South Africans furious every time he says or does something, his talk in Cape Town on Monday evening was no different. Zuma was discussing the country’s wealth and how government will follow the National Development Plan (NDP), when he dropped a statement painfully full of irony.

While he offered very few details on how the plan will be implemented, Fin24 was there to report on what he did have to say.

The DNP is government’s long-term plan to grow the economy and decrease poverty. The blueprint looks to reduce inequality and eliminate poverty by 2030 through the creation of a “virtuous cycle of growth and development”. The problem is however, the NDP was adopted in 2012 and government have been criticised for not physically implementing it.

Zuma’s 40-minute speech on Monday revealed details of the type of country that the plan wants to achieve by 2030. Again, no real details on how to get there, just what it will be like when we get there.

“(The plan) envisages a growing economy that is responsive to the demands of a fast changing world, that does not only benefit the few. It should be an economy where all share in the country’s wealth.”

Of course, changing the ownership of the economy was also on the table.

“Too many people are still unemployed. The fruits of economic growth that we have experienced have tended to be enjoyed by a few.
The fundamental challenge we face is to grow the economy in a manner that is inclusive,”

“There can be no prosperity for some while the majority languishes in poverty. We will utilise all the levers of power to significantly enhance the level of ownership of the private sector by black people,”

Yes, Mr President, we agree, let’s actually use the levels of power to improve the lives of South Africans. If officials stop using their power for dodgy things, then maybe we can actually get stuff done.