PARLIAMENT - In his State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa says the country is better under democracy.
Ramaphosa says South Africa has made progress in reducing poverty since it transitioned to democracy.
WATCH: SONA 2024 | Opposition parties criticise story of "Tintswalo"
Ramaphosa reflected on what government has done over the last 30 years through the story of Tintswalo.
“The story of the first 30 years of our democracy can be best told through the life of a child called #Tintswalo born at the dawn of freedom in 1994.”
— #SONA2024 | Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) February 8, 2024
President @CyrilRamaphosa #SONA2024#LeaveNoOneBehind 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/7o5scmsQBE
Opposition parties slammed the metaphor, saying it did not reflect the reality faced by many South Africans.
Some MPs defended the story as a representation of the gains of democracy.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said, "Tintswalo is not a unique South African. Tintswalo is a representation of many South Africans, the category we called "Black Diamonds" that if it was not [for] the interventions of the democratic government, they would not be where they are."
"They would not be living in the suburbs, they would not be driving that BMW, that Audi A3 or A4."
"Tintswalo is a representation of the achievements we have made," she said.
First Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC Nomvula Mokonyane called the story "a personified testimony of the journey we have travelled but an acknowledgement that there are many others who still have to reach the stage of Tintswalo."