By Zukile Majova
Political Editor
The ANC’s tolerance of corruption and incompetent leaders is now the single biggest threat to the future of South Africa and its people.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said this in Parliament on Tuesday, during the debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address.
He outlined a period of 15 years when Jacob Zuma took over and was later replaced by Ramaphosa, during which time the ANC derailed South Africa’s path to prosperity for its citizens.
During that period, according to Steenhuisen, Zuma and his cronies captured the state and destroyed state entities, captured SARS, the police, the National Prosecuting Authority and intelligence agencies.
The Zuma government took R250-million of taxpayers’ money to build his Nkandla home while more than R1-trillion was misused or looted.
ANC MPs also used their majority and dominance in the 400-seat Parliament to protect Zuma.
“When the ANC says that 2024 is the year we must defend our freedom, they are right. We must defend our freedom — from the ANC,” Steenhuisen said.
The DA has opened a criminal case against deputy president Paul Mashatile, who has been accused of benefiting from various corruption scandals, and Steenhuisen accused Ramaphosa of protecting his deputy.
“After all the damage and destruction wrought during the 15 wasted years under Zuma and Ramaphosa, the 2024 election is sadly not yet about truly fulfilling the dream of 1994. Instead, this election is about keeping the dream alive,” said Steenhuisen.
Freedom Front Plus leader Dr Petrus Groenewald said the economy has been shrinking since Ramaphosa took office.
“When you became president in 2018, the economic growth rate was 1.3%. Last year it was 0.9%. So under your leadership, the economy just retreated … causing havoc for the people of South Africa,” said Groenewald.
He said even though Ramaphosa was the leader of government business and headed efforts to end load shedding and rebuild Eskom, the power utility had collapsed under his watch.
“Who destroyed Eskom? The ANC destroyed Eskom. When you became president in 2018, the local currency against the dollar was R11.55. Yesterday it was R18.92.”
Pictured above: DA leader John Steenhuisen and FF+ leader Petrus Groenewald criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Source: X
