DA, EFF, COPE and 5 Opposition Parties Boycott Zuma

In an unprecedented move, eight opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters but excluding the Inkatha Freedom Party, will boycott President Jacob Zuma’s speech in Parliament on Thurday, DA leader Mmusi Maimane said in a statement signed by the party leaders. They said it would be “an empty speech of an utterly discredited and illegitimate President” and he did not deserve the money he had asked for his budget.

The statement pointed out how much money Zuma had already used on his legal expenses, a “whitewash” arms deal report, and “to travel in lavish luxury, live in luxury government accommodation, and pay for staff, cars, and secretaries for his wives and family”. It said that the signatory parties could not sanction a budget of R505 million to be used by Zuma this year.

“This collective decision was taken by opposition parties after much consideration to send a strong message to the South African people that the opposition won’t allow Zuma to trample on the constitution, ignore court rulings, and then come to Parliament and ask for more money for his office,” the statement said.

The signatories also criticised the actions taken in Parliament on Wednesday when security officials removed the EFF. “Yesterday’s sitting was a disgrace, a new low for this Parliament,” they said.

The entire statement is as follows:

“I have today consulted the following opposition parties – The DA, EFF, FF+, ACDP, Cope, UDM, NFP and PAC – and we have taken the decision to boycott this afternoon’s sitting of Parliament, where President Zuma will deliver his reply speech in the Presidency’s budget vote. As representatives of the people of South Africa, we cannot in good conscience legitimise an empty speech of an utterly discredited and illegitimate President.

“It is thus our view that the envisaged prosecution against Mr Zuma was not tainted by the allegations against Mr McCarthy. Mr Zuma should face the charges as outlined in the indictment.”

“Quite simply, the charges that were dropped by the NPA in 2009 are automatically reinstated and the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) is now duty-bound to proceed with the prosecution.

“This judgement is directly relevant to the budget of the Presidency because this budget has allowed the President to use public money to employ every delay tactic in the book – both legal and illegal – in order to avoid having his day in court.

“This budget has allowed him to spend R110 million on the Seriti Commission, an Arms Deal whitewash.

“This budget has allowed him to travel in lavish luxury, live in luxury government accommodation, and pay for staff, cars, and secretaries for his wives and family.

“Thus we cannot legitimise this budget giving the Presidency R505 million this year.

“If President Zuma is innocent of the charges he now faces, why has he spent the last 8 years, 4 months and 7 days desperately fighting to avoid having his day in court? The answer is obvious — he is corrupt. He has plenty to be afraid of in that trial. For this reason, he will in all likelihood appeal Friday’s judgement, wasting even more taxpayers’ money.

“Therefore, we cannot support any budget vote that legitimises such actions. We will not legitimise this afternoon’s sitting, and we will not legitimise this illegitimate President. He must go on trial and explain himself to the nation under cross examination.

“Furthermore, we cannot legitimise this sitting is to protest the attack on free speech in Parliament. Yesterday’s sitting was a disgrace, a new low for this Parliament. Parliament ought to be a platform where publicly elected representatives of the people are afforded constitutional protection so that vigorous political debate can occur. The very opposite occurred in the House yesterday.

“If we cannot even quote directly from court judgements, or make strident political points about the President and his party, then free speech is truly dead in our Parliament.

“It is clear that at some point all of us – as opposition parties – will have to come together to challenge the rulings of the presiding officers in court to defend the principle of free speech. It cannot go on that presiding officers blatantly employ a double standard for the ANC and the opposition.

“We believe that for SA to work, Parliament must work. And currently, this not the case.

“This collective decision was taken by opposition parties after much consideration to send a strong message to the South African people that the opposition won’t allow Zuma to trample on the constitution, ignore court rulings, and then come to Parliament and ask for more money for his office.

“It must be made abundantly clear that we are not against holding President Zuma accountable – but in fact the opposite.

“We oppose this budget and the process by which Zuma’s office will be handed more taxpayer’s money to continue to delay legal accountability.

Signed
Mr Mmusi Maimane
Mr Julius Malema
Mr Mosiuoa Lekota
Mr L R Mbinda
Ms Zanel MaGwaza-Msibi
Gen. Bantu Holomisa
Dr. Pieter Mulder
Rev. Kenneth Meshoe