ANC leadership's arrogance is an insult to hardworking South Africans
Johannesburg, Wednesday 22 January 2014 - The recent statement by ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa could be considered a bad joke if it were not such an insult to hardworking, honest citizens.
Cyril Ramaphosa told a gathering in Gauteng last week that the ANC is the only "political party with the experience and the ability" to lead South Africa. This outrageous comment would be enough to make many people laugh, let alone boo, if it were not such an insult to the hardworking, decent people of our nation who desperately want to see this country realize its great destiny.
The so-called ANC "leadership" has captured key sectors of the economy, which is now characterised by a patronage-driven cadre-deployment system in which a small ruling elite, political associates, legislators and public servants and friends and family are provided with jobs in return for loyalty, regardless of their performance.
It is estimated that more than R30-billion in public money is being lost to corruption each year - that is more than R82-million every day. Yet in 2012, the police had only made 56 arrests and achieved 11 convictions for crimes covered by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act. Clearly, professional people with integrity and expertise are not being appointed to head up the police and the National Prosecuting Authority or this figure would be a lot higher.
The ANC leadership is characterised by such underperformance. Since it came to power and implemented cadre deployment as a policy its approach flies at the heart of our nation's dire poverty and adds to the growing inequality. As a leader, President Jacob Zuma, is best characterised by the hard work he does to maintain his position of privilege and power, rather than for any work he does for his country. And his deputy Mr Ramaphosa should be ashamed of himself for having shown such disdain for the decent, honest and hardworking people of this country.
Statement issued by Andries Tlouamma, Agang SA Gauteng Chairperson, January 23 2014
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