DOCUMENTS

Ramaphosa and ANC’s legacy a picture of decay – Pieter Groenewald

FF Plus leader says SA has declined in nearly every single respect

Ramaphosa and ANC’s legacy a picture of decay

13 February 2024

The legacy of President Cyril Ramaphosa's six-year tenure is a sombre picture of utter decay.

The country has drastically declined in nearly every single respect. Every citizen's quality of life has drastically deteriorated, and through the decay seen and experienced by all daily runs the ANC's trail of destruction.

It cannot be denied. Figures, such as independent economic indicators and government's own crime statistics, offer clear proof of the country's decline under Ramaphosa.

When he became president in 2018, the economic growth rate was 1,3%. Last year, it was 0,9%. That is a decline, negatively impacting the country and its people.

During discussions with the President about the country's power problems, he admitted that 20 years ago, Eskom was one of the best power utilities in the world. The ANC destroyed Eskom single-handedly.

Moreover, while serving as Deputy President, President Ramaphosa was appointed as the head of government's so-called "war room" tasked with addressing the power problem. He failed miserably.

In 2018, the rand-dollar exchange rate was R11,55. Yesterday it stood at R18,92.

The shrinking Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) showed a loss of 22% against the American dollar over a period of six years. In comparison, the New York Nasdaq 100 grew by 147% and the S&P 500 by 75%.

Six years ago, the unemployment rate was 24%. It is now 32%. Youth unemployment rose with 20% and now stands at 64%.

The President openly admitted that the ANC is the biggest culprit when it comes to corruption. That makes him number one of accused number one. And now ANC number two, Paul Mashatile, is also being accused of corruption. But nothing is done about it.

The ANC's Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, recently also openly admitted that the ANC covered up corruption on the highest level by, among other things, lying about the Nkandla "fire pool". There was no sign of parliamentary oversight or accountability.

Just like with Nkandla, the current Parliament and its ANC majority protected President Ramaphosa concerning the Phala Phala matter. Still, the President will not stand up and be called to account to the people of South Africa.

According to the Global Organized Crime Index, South Africa is seventh on the list and third in Africa. The largest crime syndicate in the country is probably the ANC.

Six years ago, the murder rate in South Africa was 35 per 100 000 of the population. It is now 45. President Ramaphosa denied the existence of farm murders to the world and was only willing to acknowledge it after the FF Plus confronted him about it in parliamentary debates.

South Africa is a constitutional state and every citizen should be equal before the law. However, with the court case in Groblersdal in which two persons were charged with assault, the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, and Justice, Ronald Lamola, attended the accused’s bail applications in person.

The motive was purely political to subtly put pressure on the presiding officer and intimidate him. They were denied bail.

In stark contrast, I personally brought two complaints against the EFF leader, Julius Malema, for his explicit incitement to murder white people. Why was he not arrested as well? This creates inequality before the law.

In South Africa, approximately 10 000 children die of starvation every year while the President and his entourage enjoy meals costing R24 000 per person on the Inkwazi. It demonstrates absolute contempt for the people of South Africa who are starving.

The ANC's filthy footprints, with those of President Cyril Ramaphosa leading the way, will still be visible on the South African landscape long after the ANC. It is time for President Ramaphosa and the ANC to go.

Issued by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus leader, 13 February 2024