‘Ten Questions that Jacob Zuma must answer'
The DA today launches the first in a series of documents that set out the implications of a Zuma presidency for South Africa . We believe that the South African public have the right to know who the real Jacob Zuma is and the direction he is likely to take South Africa should he become the next President.
It was exactly six months ago yesterday that Jacob Zuma was elected ANC President, but there remain major question marks over his views on key issues of national importance. These include: the arms deal, the disbanding of the Scorpions, labour legislation, the independence of the SABC, HIV/Aids and the supremacy of the Constitution.
I have today written to Jacob Zuma to request that he clarify where he stands on these and other key issues. I have also asked him to debate these issues with me in public at a time and venue of his choosing. In the meantime, the DA will continue to put pressure on Mr Zuma to give the South African public a clear idea of where he stands.
Some of Zuma's public pronouncements, such as those denigrating the Constitution and delegitimising the opposition, set out his views in no uncertain terms. It is clear however that they are not befitting of the potential President of South Africa. The DA believes that it is time for Mr Zuma to either confirm or retract these statements.
Other statements such as those on labour legislation, the disbanding of the Scorpions and the independence of the SABC have been contradicted by Zuma and/or his close allies. The DA believes that Mr Zuma should set the record straight once and for all.
I have put the following questions to Jacob Zuma:
1. You have consistently refused to recognise the status of our Constitution, twice stating that you believe the ANC is "more important" than the Constitution.
Will you retract your statement that the ANC is more important than the Constitution and acknowledge that it is the cornerstone of our democracy and supreme law?
2. You have repeatedly defended the ANC's policy of cadre deployment that undermines the principle of separation of party and state.
Will you stop the policy of deploying ANC "cadres" to key positions in the institutions of state, including those designed to limit and balance the power of the governing party? Do you recognise the conflict of interest inherent in this policy?
3. You have on at least three occasions stated that the ANC rules by divine right and implied that the opposition is illegitimate.
Will you publicly acknowledge that all political parties are equally legitimate before the law and that the results of any free and fair election must be accepted by all parties?
4. Although you have recently expressed concern about developments in Zimbabwe , in the past you have also defended the policy of quiet diplomacy and failed to condemn election rigging and human rights abuses in Zimbabwe .
Will you acknowledge that the South African government's approach in Zimbabwe has failed and that a human rights-based approach to foreign policy is needed, backed by appropriate international pressure when necessary?
5. You have consistently stated that the Arms Deal was free of corruption and that there is therefore no need for any further investigations.
Will you admit that government interfered with independent investigations into the arms deal and ask the Chief Justice to appoint an independent judicial commission of enquiry to fully investigate all corruption allegations relating to the deal?
6. You have repeatedly defended President Mbeki's views on HIV/Aids.
Will you distance yourself from the current ANC government's Aids denialism and admit the damage it has caused to the fight against the pandemic?
7. In the past you have defended the existence of the Scorpions and argued that they should remain independent of the police, yet now your party is determined to disband the unit and incorporate its staff into the South African Police Service.
Can you explain why your party is acting to disband the Scorpions when you have defended the unit's existence on a number of occasions in the past? Do you support Gwede Mantashe's stated position that the Scorpions must be disbanded because they are investigating ANC leaders?
8. You recently called for greater labour market flexibility on the grounds that rigid labour laws were "counting out the poorest of the poor" from the job market, yet you quickly retracted your position under pressure from Cosatu.
What is your position on labour market flexibility? Do you think that current labour laws hamper job creation or not?
9. Previously, you have come out in support of the SABC's independence. Recently however, your allies have said that there should be a change in the SABC Board because there has been a change of leadership in the ANC.
Do you believe that the SABC should be an independent institution and can you guarantee that the process to appoint the Board will be free of executive and ruling party interference?
10. In the past you have said that politicians must be "exemplary in what they do" and that politicians must be "upright and transparent insofar as the use of public funds is concerned." Yet, despite consistently calling for your day in court, you have acted to delay and prevent your corruption case from reaching trial. Your allies in the ANC Youth League have said that they will "take up arms" if you are convicted.
Can you offer South Africa the assurance that, if elected to the office of President, you will uphold the dignity of that office and that you will step down from office should you be convicted on a criminal charge?
The South African public deserves to know where the ANC's presidential candidate stands on these critical issues. Yet Jacob Zuma, despite his public profile, remains an enigma to most South Africans. This is why we need this public debate.
Statement issued by Democratic Alliance leader, Helen Zille, June 19 2008
