‘For the ANC, it’s Zuma first and the South African people last’: Maimane
DA leader Mmusi Maimane has called on the ANC to ‘do the honourable thing’ at this weekend’s National Executive Committee (NEC), and recall president Jacob Zuma.
A number of senior ANC officials have already said that Zuma’s recall will not be discussed this weekend, despite revelations by senior ANC members pertaining to the president’s ‘dubious’ relationship with the Gupta family, and alleged attempts to ‘capture’ the state.
“The ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC), the party’s highest decision making body, ought to do the honourable thing during its sitting this weekend and recall President Zuma from his position with immediate effect.
“The ANC cannot continue to protect Jacob Zuma at the expense of the poor and the 8.2 million jobless South Africans. South Africa deserves better,” Maimane said.
“It is becoming clear that the ANC is no longer interested in the people of South Africa. Their President has been captured by the Guptas, and he in turn has captured the state. South Africa no longer belongs to all who live in it – rather it now belongs to a select clique of politically connected people,” he said in a statement on Saturday (19 March).
The DA noted that earlier this week, the former chair of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, Vytjie Mentor, publically revealed that she was offered the job of Minister of Public Enterprises by the Guptas on one condition: she “drops the SAA flight-route to India and give to them”.
Mentor further alleged that president Zuma was on the Guptas Saxonwold premises at the time, in a room next door.
Mentor’s utterances have led to several ANC members speaking out on similar encounters with the Guptas, including Deputy Finance Minister, Mcebisi Jonas, Public Service and Administration Minister, Ngoako Ramathlodi and former Public Enterprises Minister, Barbara Hogan.
“It is shameful that instead of being a selfless and citizen-oriented leader, President Zuma has become a self-serving and crony-oriented leader, leaving behind the hopes and dreams of millions of South Africans who still do not experience a better life,” Maimane said.
He said that the ANC are now faced with a choice: “they can affirm and support such disgraceful action by President Zuma, or they can take action and recall him from his position – putting to an end his disastrous 7-year reign.”
Maimane said that if the ANC hope to claim back any shred of credibility in the eyes of the electorate, “they must take the collective decision to recall president Zuma”.
“In the end, if the ANC elects not to recall the President, only one conclusion can be drawn: for the ANC, it’s Zuma first and the South African people last. ”
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