Johannesburg - The DA on Sunday again challenged the ANC to public debates between their respective mayoral candidates in the August 3 local government elections.
“The DA again challenges the ANC’s mayoral candidates to a debate as soon as possible so that (President Jacob) Zuma’s pals can allow themselves to be scrutinised openly,” said DA leader Mmusi Maimane, speaking to reporters at a press conference on the outcomes of the DA federal council meeting held in Durban on Saturday.
Maimane said the announcement of the ANC’s mayoral candidates – delayed for over six months by Zuma –presented “the predictable”, as they were “a conglomeration of Zuma’s pals who would focus on benefiting the ANC-connected elite at the expense of the poor”.
The ANC’s mayoral candidates were incapable of bringing the change necessary to move the country forward.
“They offer more of the same – more corruption, deteriorating service delivery, and increasing joblessness. The only job they care about is that of Jacob Zuma,” Maimane said.
The ANC’s candidates were not the best, but rather put forward to serve a faction in the patronage war within the ANC, he said.
On the other hand, the DA’s goals were to stop corruption, deliver services, and ensure job creation.
“South Africa needs to take stock. We are facing a really big choice with this significant election. Do we want the same old thing or real change?” he asked.
It was worrying that Zuma had not spoken out about the violence within the ANC’s own ranks. His silence on the violence in the City of Tshwane was “shameful”.
“The DA condemns ANC co-ordinated violence in Tshwane following the imposition of Zuma’s friend (Tshwane mayoral candidate) Thoko Didiza.
“This factional war demonstrates yet again just how much the ANC has changed,” Maimane said.
The ANC was at war with itself and putting the lives of people in danger.
The governing party should be ashamed of the way it had allowed, and responded to, the serious situation in Tshwane.
“While people have died and public property has been destroyed, the president has not said a single word. This is not a man who can be trusted by South Africans to look after their best interests.”
Maimane called on Zuma to take a leaf out of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s book after citizens voted in a referendum on Thursday to leave the European Union, which Cameron campaigned against.
“Cameron did the honourable thing and resigned. If you have lost the mandate of the people you must step aside. Jacob Zuma has lost the mandate of the people and should do the same thing,” Maimane said.
African News Agency