No DA roses for Zuma
2013-02-13 14:40
Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma is set to deliver his
State of the Nation address this year on Valentine's Day, but the DA made it
clear on Wednesday they are not planning to send him any roses.
Speaking from a statement titled "Zuma's Sona
Record: Big Ideas, Little Detail, No Action", DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe
Mazibuko told reporters in Cape Town that Zuma's presidency had "been
characterised by inaction, political expediency, and scandal".
He had "kow-towed" to Cosatu in an effort to
get himself re-elected as ANC president, and had spent last year focused on
"factionalism, cronyism, and ANC machinations".
Responding to a question on whether she thought 2013
might be better, she said Zuma appeared more concerned with "staying at
the top of the pile" in the ruling party than with running the country.
"As President Zuma delivers his fourth State of the
Nation address [on Thursday], many South Africans have little confidence in his
ability to deliver on what he promises," Mazibuko said.
Most of the key pledges he made last year "barely
got off the ground, or have not been given effect at all".
Turning to the economy, she said Zuma's 2012 plan to
address South Africa's infrastructure backlog through 18 major projects had
been "slow off the ground", with little progress.
His government's policies, the ruling party's
"aggressive rhetoric", and Cosatu's "bullying", had also
scared off investment in the country's mining sector.
"The mining sector is now shedding jobs and failing
to attract investment," Mazibuko said.
Party colleague and caucus chairperson Wilmot James said
Zuma's call last year for school teachers to be "in class, on time,
teaching for at least seven hours a day" remained a pipe-dream.
"He continues to allow himself to be bullied by
Sadtu [the SA Democratic Teachers' Union]," he said.
The recent backing down by government on declaring
teaching an essential service was a case in point.
On combating corruption, DA Chief Whip Watty Watson said
Zuma's government had failed to regulate the business interests of state
employees.
"The draft public sector integrity framework,
apparently before Cabinet, has not been adopted, while Chancellor House
continues to be allowed to tender for big contracts, despite it being an
investment arm of the ANC," he said.
The DA called on Zuma, in his address on Thursday, to
show leadership, "put South Africa's interests ahead of his political
career", and provide clear deadlines for implementation of promises made.
"To put South Africa back on the track to economic
growth, job creation, and optimism, he must tackle the major challenges of
unemployment, crime, a failing education system, corruption, as well as become
the key defender of the Constitution."
But Mazibuko said Zuma's record spoke for itself.
"This isn't a president of action and delivery. It
is a presidency more concerned with political game-playing and maintaining the
support of 4 000 ANC delegates," she said.
Zuma is set to deliver his State of the Nation address
from 19:00 on Thursday.
- SAPA
