Voters must "recall" President Zuma on May 7

Note to Editors: This is an extract of a speech delivered by DA Leader Helen Zille in Doornkop, Mpumalanga today. 

It is great to be back in Mpumalanga. I was here three weeks ago when the DA brought its manifesto Together For Change Together for Jobs here. I am excited by the momentum that the DA is gaining here. 

One of the most important ways that jobs are created is by rooting out corruption. It is impossible to overemphasise the link between the two.  When money that is supposed to be spent on service delivery for the poor, and on infrastructure for growing the economy, is instead lost to the pockets of corrupt leaders, then we cannot begin to fight unemployment. 

Because corruption has become so familiar to many South Africans, we run the risk of becoming use to it. I know some people put their hands up in the air and say this will never change. But corruption is not something we can afford to tolerate. 

It has been proven time and time again that corruption and mismanagement, in all its forms, are major causes of poverty and unemployment.

Let me be clear today: the future of South Africa cannot belong to corrupt politicians who steal the country's resources. Corruption is evil. It takes money from the poor. It poisons our politics. It drains the faith of voters in the country's progress and advancement.

Last week, listening to the Public Protector read her report on Nkandla, the thing that shocked me the most was not that President Zuma knew what was going on at Nkandla and did nothing to stop it. We always knew that, the Public Protector just confirmed it. It wasn't even that President Zuma and his family benefited personally from Nkandla. That was always obvious too. 

What shocked me most was how all of the laws and regulations were completely ignored because this house was for the President, not for "ordinary people". The message to South Africans is clear: the law doesn't apply to the President - he is above the law. And what should shock us most of all is that the President and his top Minister do not believe that this constitutes corruption.

We cannot allow that to happen in South Africa. No one is above the law. No one can abuse their position for personal gain! 

That is why we have called for President Zuma to be impeached, and we will carry on pushing for that to happen in Parliament. That is also why we have laid criminal charges against President Zuma. No one is above the law. 

President Jacob Zuma's corruption has come to define his Presidency. He will always be remembered for two things: how the number of unemployed people grew under his presidency, and how he abused his office for personal gain. That is his legacy. 

As Pallo Jordan, an ANC veteran, said in the newspaper this morning - we do not feel confidence that our President will tackle corruption anymore, because he has been personally involved in every major scandal in South Africa since he became President. He is totally compromised. 

But here is the key: You, the voters, can also use your power to stop corruption. You can use your power to bring change to South Africa. 

Your power is much more potent - no amount of corruption can stand against the power of the voters. On 7 May, you can use your vote to recall President Zuma. 

On 7 May you can send the message loud and clear that you will not let politicians get rich on your money; and that you will not let one man build a palace for himself while there are 7 million people without any work. 

And when the President himself is so compromised, it is no wonder that corruption is booming at every level of government. 

Let's look at what has happened in Mpumalanga over the last financial year. 

According to the Auditor General report for 2012/13, unauthorised expenditure increased from R1.3 million in 2011/12 to R136 million in 2012/2013. This is a 10 000% increase. 

In total, wasteful expenditure in this province amounts to R369 million.

We all know that a fish rots from its head downward. 

The reason why corruption has been able to spread its ugly tentacles in this provincial government unchecked is because the premier has not led from the front. Despite the national finance minister's strict rules on ministerial expenditure, Premier David Mabuza has splurged out on a new Audi A8, a BMW X5 and a Range Rover.  

The absence of corruption is one of the golden threads that makes a country succeed. 

A DA-led provincial and national government will tackle corruption head on. We have done it where we govern. And we will do it everywhere we are elected. 

South Africa cannot afford another lost five years. Taking the hard decisions to clean up corruption, and putting South Africa on the fast track of economic growth cannot be deferred one more day.   

We offer every South African an invitation: ‘vote DA and we will change South Africa together '. Together for Change. Together for Jobs.

Issued by the DA, March 27 2014

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