President Zuma jokes in Parliament while South Africa waits for answers

24 July 2014

During his reply to The Presidency Budget Vote today in Parliament, President Zuma failed to respond to the pressing issues which face South Africa and its people. These issues which emerged loudly during the Presidency Budget Debate yesterday range from a compromised National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to rising levels of unemployment.

Instead, while glossing over serious accusations on his inability to lead, the President made several jokes to the House. Like with his State of the Nation Address, we are no closer to knowing in which direction the President wants to take South Africa.

The call was made yesterday for the President to commit to the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP), but this commitment was entirely left out of his reply. We need action on the NDP, in the form of implementation, not lip service.

Furthermore, the President's reply today dodged questions around:

The widely criticized appointment of SABC COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng; 

The terms of reference of the inquiry into the appointment of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Mxolisi Nxasana;

Problematic Bills, such as The Labour Relations Amendment Bill, The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill, The Private Security Industry Regulation Bill and The Woman Empowerment and Gender Equity Bill; 

Scrapping the cash-sucking NYDA; and

Taking urgent action to keep the lights on.

We reiterate our call for President Zuma to lead, or step aside.

Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane MP, DA Parliamentary Leader, July 24 2014

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