NATIONAL NEWS - President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address in parliament last Thursday has been discussed on all platforms for the last week. 

Mostly there is excitement in the air and a sense of relief. 

Extracts from his speech below reveal why his address had such an impact on all South Africans.

Highlights from his speech:

• In response to the dire situation at several of our state-owned enterprises, we have taken decisive measures to improve governance, strengthen leadership and restore stability in strategic entities.

• We have also had to deal with the effects of state capture on vital public institutions, including our law enforcement agencies, whose integrity and ability to fulfil their mandate had been eroded in recent years. We have appointed a new national director of public prosecutions, Adv Shamila Batohi, to lead the revival of the NPA and to strengthen our fight against crime and corruption.

• We are implementing the recommendations of the report of the Nugent Commission of Inquiry into Sars and are in the process of appointing a new commissioner to head this essential institution.

• On the basis of the report of the high level review panel on the State Security Agency, I will soon be announcing urgent steps to enable the reconstitution of a professional national intelligence capability for South Africa.

Cyril's five-point plan:

These are tasks that will underpin everything we do this year. Working together, we must undertake the following tasks:

• Firstly, we must accelerate inclusive economic growth and create jobs.

• Secondly, our history demands that we should improve the education system and develop the skills that we need now and into the future.

• Thirdly, we are duty bound to improve the conditions of life for all South Africans, especially the poor.

• Fourthly, we have no choice but to step up the fight against corruption and state capture.

• Fifthly, we need to strengthen the capacity of the state to address the needs of the people.

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