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Ramphosa Again Holds Up China as a Development Model for South Africa

by Cobus van Staden
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his State of the Nation (SONA) address at the opening of the parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, 10 February 2022. Nic BOTHMA / POOL / AFP

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa referenced China as a model for South Africa to lessen its sky-high unemployment problem. Ramaphosa was addressing the country’s parliament in a follow-up debate to his annual State of the Nation Address, which took place on 10 February. 

In his reply address, Ramaphosa cited China as an example of a country that managed to grow private-sector employment while maintaining a centrally planned development agenda. 

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