Zuma should turn down salary increase, and put South Africans first for once
11 March 2016
Yesterday the ANC in Parliament increased President Zuma’s salary to R2,874,821 a year proving once again that the ANC, like its President, puts itself first and South Africans second. As such the DA calls on the President to do the honourable thing and turndown this salary increase because he simply does not deserve it.
This increase comes at a time when the country’s economy continues to fight an impending downgrade to “junk status” as a result of the direct actions taken by the President in December last year, and the devastating ripple effect it has had on the pensions of millions of hard-working South Africans, his salary should remain unchanged at the existing level of remuneration to reflect his failure to improve the economy and create jobs.
This poor conduct was blindly endorsed by the ANC in Parliament that once again put President Zuma first by rewarding his poor performance with R7,876 a day, while 8.2 million South Africans are locked out of the economy due to joblessness. The ANC’s bloated government continues to govern like black lives don’t matter, and has continued to put the needs of ordinary citizens, and the poor in particular, at the bottom of their priority list. Shaming the legacy of Nelson Mandela, the President has acted with no fear of local or global fiscal consequence. “Junk” performance should not be rewarded with increased remuneration.
A seminal highlight in President’s Zuma’s endless list of failings is the Nkandla debacle which the ANC in Parliament deem worthy of a salary increase. In February this year the President made an about turn on the Nkandla matter and after years conceded that he was indeed liable for the R246 million upgrades to his palatial residence at Nkandla. In doing so he completely threw the ANC in Parliament under the bus after they attempted to shield him from all liability through two ad hoc committees yet still they have given him a salary increase in blind service to a man who clearly has no regard for them. That the ANC in Parliament thinks this raise is appropriate is a disgrace and represents a caucus of blind followers who follow a rudderless President and are not in Parliament to represent the people who voted for them.
Just last month, the ANC had a chance to remove Zuma from office by supporting the DA’s Motion of No Confidence in the President. Instead, the ANC in Parliament as they did all through the Nkandla debacle, chose to blindly put President Zuma first ahead of the millions of South Africans who desperately need bold leadership that will create jobs. The ANC in Parliament is as much to blame for the shocking state of affairs as President Zuma is.
The ANC continues to sell-out the people of South Africa and have once again proven themselves untrustworthy in bringing about change the people of South Africa need. President Zuma, his cronies and ANC cadres continue to live in undisturbed abundance, cushioned by corruption, incompetence and mediocrity, while ordinary hard-working South Africans face being stripped of their financial security and livelihood as the economy continues to plummet.
South Africans have the chance to bring about the change they wish to see, and put themselves first by voting for change at the Local Government Elections later this year. The DA has continuously shown its commitment to delivering the best to citizens where we govern, as well as prudently managing public finances. The DA stands for one nation, united in its freedom, access to opportunities and driven by fairness. The time is ripe for South Africans to choose a party that will put them first, every day.
Statement issued by Sej Motau, DA Shadow Minister for the Presidency, 11 March 2016
