Zuma placing party above country: DA

President Zuma during a press briefing after a meeting with the National Planning Commission at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. South Africa. 03/07/2013

President Zuma during a press briefing after a meeting with the National Planning Commission at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. South Africa. 03/07/2013

Published Jan 23, 2014

Share

Johannesburg - The DA accused President Jacob Zuma on Thursday of putting party politics above the economy by not attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

“It is unacceptable that President Zuma would put party politics above our economy, when every report and every indicator points to an economic crisis in South Africa,” Democratic Alliance Parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko said in a statement.

“Moreover, this is a major failure of economic leadership on the part of the president.”

Last week, Zuma told a delegation going to Davos that he regretted not going but had work to attend to.

“I truly regret that I will not be joining you in Davos this time due to work pressure at home related to preparations for the elections and the transition to the fifth democratic administration,” he said at the time.

The African National Congress is holding a national executive committee meeting on Friday followed by a two-day lekgotla and then its national list conference on Monday.

At the list conference the party will decide on candidates for Parliament and provincial legislatures.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and a business delegation from South Africa would attend the World Economic Forum.

Mazibuko claimed that Zuma was in “panic mode”.

“He realises that South Africans are tired of playing second fiddle to his political survival in the ANC.

“If the ANC were really serious about creating six million jobs in this country, President Zuma would put politics aside, show leadership at these turbulent times and engage with other world leaders about ways in which we can grow our economy and get our people working,” she said.

Sapa

Related Topics: