EFF WELCOMES THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE OF SOCIETY TO THE NKANDLA JUDGMENT

12 April 2016

The EFF welcomes the overwhelming positive response by different and many collectives in society to the Nkandla judgment and the call for Zuma to step down. The EFF, having initiated the constitutional court case celebrates that our people have taken the matter to their own hands and are taking ownership of the process of defending a constitutional order and the rule of law in relation to the executive.

Once the Constitutional Court ruled, the matter assumed a national character that should unite all of us regardless of political affiliation. The country must indeed unite and defend its own constitution. It is a matter of fact that Zuma violated the constitution and his oath of office and thus, business cannot continue as usual. To expect this is itself violent and must be rejected with all the contempt it deserves.

All groups, from unions, religious groups, and prominent leaders and voices that have been critical to the building of a democratic society, have called on Zuma to resign as a concrete response to the constitutional court judgement. The express majority of our people correctly reject the apology that Zuma has made is inadequate and have called on him to step down.

We also celebrate many voices in the congress alliance, like the SACP who have called on society to enter a process of soul searching. Others in the ruling party, like Generals of Umkhonto we Sizwe have openly called on Zuma to step down.

We reiterate that there is indeed no better response, on the part of Zuma, in implementing the Constitutional Court judgement than to step down as President of the Republic of South Africa. The country needs not be taken through the trauma of having to institute more legal actions to remove Zuma. We call on him to do the honourable thing and step down from office in the interest of reaffirming a constitutional order and the rule of law.

The EFF’s fight for the restoration of the rule of law and a corrupt free government is in concert with our Founding Manifesto, in particular cardinal pillar number seven which states that we shall fight for an “Open, accountable, corrupt-free government and society without fear of victimisation by state agencies.”

As a revolutionary movement we aim to use the state for the reorganisation of colonial patterns of ownership in relation to land and commanding heights of the economy. We plan to use the state to lead massive industrialisation that creates quality jobs. We also aim to use the state to roll out free quality education, healthcare, housing and sanitation. Therefore, such a state must be a people's state, free from corruption and nepotism.

We also welcome reports that the Gupta family has left our shores in the Republic of South Africa. The Gupta family and their relationship with Zuma and many in the cabinet represent the type of kleptocracy that must never see the light of day in our country. Their departure must be celebrated as a step in the direction towards the restoration of the rule of law which will be completed with the ultimate removal of Zuma.

The restoration of the rule of law and respect of state institutions is central to the objectives of realising economic freedom in our life time. Each time a corrupt, powerful and politically connected individual is held accountable it is a step in uprooting corrupting from our society. Only a credible, corrupt free and law abiding state can lead a credible socialist program that will see the end of production for profit and the birth of a system of production for people.

In keeping with Chairman Mao Zedong’s logic, the EFF celebrates the many voices in defence of a constitutional order. We say “let a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend” in defence of our constitutional order. May many more South Africans join in a united demand for Zuma to step down.

Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters, 12 April 2016