Violence-free Sona debate
EFF boycott leaves other parties making vigorous verbal stabs at each other
THERE was less drama yesterday as opposition MPs picked apart President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation address (Sona), labelling him an “enemy of the people” and accusing him of selling the country to foreign agents.
The post-Sona debate was not characterised by last week’s violent scenes, which left MPs and protection services staff alike battered and bruised. But MPs still took the time to have another go at each other across the chamber.
The security presence was not huge despite Zuma’s presence.
He sat quietly through speeches from both ANC MPs and opposition members.
Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe opened the debate, commenting that last week’s “mayhem” was “highly regrettable”.
He said Zuma had to wait for more than an hour to “articulate his plans” for the country because of constant interruptions and “profanities spewed inside this esteemed house with reckless abandon”.
Turning to the contents of the speech, Radebe said it was underpinned by the National Development Plan “as a bedrock for building a better and more prosperous South Africa by 2030”.
“It was in view of the slow pace of transformation and lack of inclusivity in the economy that the President introduced the Radical Socio- Economic Transformation,” he said.
Radebe was followed by DA leader Mmusi Maimane, who began by accusing Zuma of building his house – a “monument of corruption” – on the backs of the poor.
“The President is selling our country to foreign agents. We will never forget how he laughed. How he laughed at the violence visited upon members of this House. It was the laugh of an enemy of the people.
“When the President stood on this podium to talk of radical socioeconomic transformation, he wasn’t talking about saving this lost generation. Don’t be fooled by the language in President Zuma’s speech.
“His project, and that of the ANC, is the accumulation of personal wealth,” said Maimane.
He said the government had turned against the people of South Africa.
“The ANC has stopped caring about ordinary South Africans.
“The ANC has turned from liberator of the people to the enemy of the people,” said Maimane.
Turning to the speech, Maimane said when the President spoke about accelerating land reform, “what he really means is more dodgy deals for ANC cronies”.
The debate went ahead with less drama and violence, with the EFF refusing to be part of the debate.
The EFF held a press briefing in Johannesburg instead, where the party said it would approach the Constitutional Court to force parliament to act against Zuma (see accompanying report).
The Congress of the People (COPE) also refused to participate.
Next up was the ANC’s Elsie Coleman, who said radical economic transformation had to be the focus.
“In [the] economy we refer to ownership. Black South Africans must be brought to [the] centre of wealth creation and wealth distribution. All this must change [the] macro picture in the economy,” said Coleman.
IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi also had a go at the ruling party and its recent focus on “white monopoly capital”.
“White monopoly capital is now the only scapegoat for failed leadership on economic policy,” said Buthelezi. He added that South Africans “know that it’s about to get rough and they don’t know where to go”.
“There is no longer meaning in phrases like ‘a better life for all’.
“Our people are desperate for something real,” said Buthelezi.
ANC MP Bongani Mkongi launched an attack on Maimane, saying “apartheid antics” would be repeated in the house yesterday.
“Mr President, the youth of this country should refuse to allow a white man in a black skin to stand here today and demonise them,” said Mkongi, referring to Maimane’s programme on the “lost generation” of black youth.
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said there was an increase in the “politics of patronage” with failing health and education systems, widening inequality and “ineffective provincial governments”. — TMG