POLITICS

Parliament has degenerated into one of discord and dishonesty – COPE

Party says they feel vindicated for pulling out for time being

COPE vindicated for pulling out of Parliament for now

4 May 2016

Congress of the People is vindicated for having pulled out of parliament for now. Our parliament has degenerated into a parliament of discord, dissension and dishonesty. By its shameful failure to act as an independent arm of government, through the strength of the ANC caucus, neither the president nor the executive are being properly held to account. The present parliament has lost its legitimacy.

Parliament cannot accord Zuma respect or legitimacy. Mr Zuma broke his oath of office.  This was the finding of the apex court. Even so, parliament has done nothing to act against him for this very serious violation of the Constitution. As a result of the ANC caucus holding sway, it pretends to be business as usual. That can never be.  While Mr Zuma clings on to power, he will not be accepted as president by more and more South Africans. He is shorn of his moral authority.

The forced removal of the EFF from parliament today, and all that the nation is witnessing in the National Assembly is very distressing. Decorum has to prevail and mutuality has to obtain. Parliament has to be restored as a place of robust debate but never permitted to be the space for disorderly conduct, extreme rudeness and forced removal.

The issue is simple: Mr Zuma has too many criminal charges waiting to be answered. On top of all of that, he broke his oath of office. Furthermore he is over-borrowing, over-spending on consumption and putting South Africa into a very deep hole. Those who still support him do so out of expediency, not conviction. The situation is becoming impossible.

COPE urges the ruling party to deal decisively with the Zuma issue so that rule of law not only prevails but is seen to be prevailing. It is wrong for the ruling party to whitewash all Mr Zuma's transgressions and thereby to plunge the country into chaos.

Issued by Dennis Bloem, COPE Spokesperson, 4 May 2016