No more shame left in the ANC

25 May 2016

The prioritization of the excessive needs of Mr Zuma and his wives displaces to a much lower place the basic wants of South Africans in real need. The Ministers who get appointed to the cabinet can underperform but they dare not fail to please the boss. Sycophancy in South Africa has reached its nadir.

Nhleko, true to form, argued that the purchases of luxury vehicles for Zuma’s wives were necessary "to provide comprehensive protection of VIP spouses". Just as the swimming pool, the cattle kraal and the chicken run in his view were necessary to Mr Zuma’s protection, so too are the luxury vehicles for Zuma's spouses.

What will the ANC caucus or Mantashe for that matter have to say about this spending without a care at a time of austerity? Nothing. Mr Mantashe is the James Bond chasing western agents in South Africa who are planning a regime change in the country. In his world of fantasy reality does not count. Therefore he will say nothing.

According to Business Day the expenditure provided for by the presidential spousal budgetary for the period that Zuma has been in office has come to R88-million. He is indeed the billion rand president and the costliest who will leave South Africa groaning under a debt of over R3-trillion and a legacy that will see South Africa reduced to junk status.  

It is shocking that the purchase of the vehicles did not come from the spousal budget but from the police budget. It's a double whammy. Who cares about crimes when the Minister of Police has to care about luxury transport for Mr Zuma’s wives? And we should not forget the cost of petrol, insurance, maintenance and so on that we ordinary citizens have to take care of ourselves.

ANC supporters will not bat an eyelid. Except for the few at the top, thanks to ANC supporters, increasing poverty will be our common lot. As for the Zumas, there will be no issue of austerity. The Ministers will take care of all their needs whatever the cost.

There is no more shame left in the ANC.

Issued by Dennis Bloem, COPE Spokesperson, 25 May 2016