Parliament can fire Zuma on 1 March 2016

18 February 2016

This afternoon President Jacob Zuma used his reply to the State of the Nation Address debate to once again blame our current economic crisis purely on international conditions. The global economy is not healthy, but South Africa is still under-performing when compared to its peers because of poor leadership and policy decision.

The President also used his speech to correct his unacceptable previous statement that the ANC comes before South Africa. We welcome his statement today, but he must now match his commitment with action that shows that South Africa truly does come first. He can start by making sure that lucrative government contracts are no longer dished out to members of his own family, and well-connected ANC cronies. 

The DA welcomes the President’s announcement of the establishment of separate gangs and narcotics bureaus. This has been DA policy ever since the specialised units were first disbanded, and we’ve consistently called for their return over the years. We welcome the President’s decision reverse the ANC’s position in this regard.

On education, the President rattled off statistics about access to education, deliberately ignoring the biggest obstacle to fixing the quality of education in our schools – the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU). Until its stronghold is broken, the quality of education for young South Africans will continue to decline.

In the end, the speech contained many lofty commitments to do things different. The 8.3 million jobless South Africans have heard such commitments many times before. Each time, their hopes are disappointed by the ANC and the President’s failure to match words with action. 

President Zuma’s reply, just like his State of the Nation Address, reflects a president so out of touch with the country and its dire economic reality that his presidency must be brought to an end.

In light of this, we welcome this morning’s decision by National Assembly Programme Committee (NAPC), to schedule a Motion of No Confidence in President Jacob Zuma for Tuesday, 1 March 2016.

Following Zuma’s catastrophic decision to fire Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene last year, I wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, requesting Parliament debates and votes on a Motion of No Confidence in Jacob Zuma, at the earliest available opportunity in 2016. With President Zuma at the head of our economy, the hope of a better life for all South Africans will never become a reality.

On 1 March 2016, Parliament will be given the chance to vote with their conscience and with the hopes and dreams of the 8.3 million unemployed South Africans, and to remove President Zuma once and for all.

The DA will continue to lead the fight for economic freedom for all South Africans by ensuring our economy grows and creates new jobs for the 8.3 million jobless South Africans. The first step towards that is for Jacob Zuma to be removed as President.

Statement issued by DA leader, Mmusi Maimane, 18 February 2016