Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has assured that his party will continue to push for the implementation of “faster and bolder reform”, while it rejects the African National Congress's continued adherence to black economic empowerment (BEE).

In his reply to the debate on the State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa defended BEE and criticised political parties that called for its scrapping.

He argued that there had been “real changes” in ownership patterns, management control, enterprise development and skills development through the use of BEE policies.

Steenhuisen said the DA would continue to fight for an alternative that creates a more “inclusive” economy for all, claiming that BEE has benefited “only politically connected elites at the expense of the poor, who remain trapped in poverty, locked out of employment, and with little hope of climbing the opportunity ladder”.

Last year, the DA proposed the Economic Inclusion for All Bill, to repeal and replace BEE in its current form.

He noted that while there were encouraging signs of stabilisation under the Government of National Unity (GNU), albeit “slow [to take root] and . . . not felt evenly”.

He pointed out that South Africans still faced severe unemployment, crime, failing municipalities, and economic growth that was far below what was required to create jobs at scale.

Steenhuisen said the DA remained committed to the GNU because it was helping to stabilise South Africa after years of “governance failure, and because it serves as a bulwark against instability and extremist policy alternatives”.

“But participation in the GNU does not mean passive support. It means driving reform from within, fighting corruption, and holding the executive accountable where urgency is lacking,” he expressed.

He said the key test following the SoNA and the President’s reply to the debate on SoNA was whether government would accelerate structural reforms that unlocked growth and jobs.

Steenhuisen noted the party’s consistent call for urgent reforms in ports and rail through accelerated private concessions, an end to cadre deployment and the enforcement of merit-based appointments.

The party also called for accelerated energy market reform, the unbundling of Eskom, and pro-investment policy certainty.

“These are practical economic reforms, not ideological positions, and they are essential to achieving sustained growth,” he said.