Zuma statue is a national shame – DA

South Africa does not need “monuments to corruption and unemployment”, such as a statue of President Jacob Zuma and the money would be better spent elsewhere, according to the Democratic Alliance (DA).

The money allocated to the enormous 6m bronze statue of Zuma, which North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo’s ANC provincial government “is hellbent on building” in Groot Marico, would be much better spent on a long list of priorities that would benefit the people of SA, rather than deifying Zuma, DA North West leader and MPL Joe McGluwa said.

Job creation, services and infrastructure were desperately lacking and should be addressed well before statues were built.

“Equally, the statue millions would be much better and much more appropriately spent on completing the Ipid [Independent Police Investigative Directorate] investigation into the [August 2012] Marikana massacre that left 34 people dead at the hands of the state in the North West province,” he said.

Since 2016, Ipid had begged parliament for R5 million to fund the remainder of its Marikana investigation in line with the Farlam Commission of Inquiry’s remedial action; yet no funds had been available for this.

“South Africa as a nation, and the North West province, deserves for the horrific events of Marikana to be taken seriously by government and an investigation by Ipid is essential to properly identify wrongdoing.

“Until the investigation is fully funded, the Marikana massacre is not being properly addressed by the ANC government, who would clearly rather spend millions on a statue,” McGluwa said.

The funding needed to complete the probe should be a priority and a multimillion-rand statue of Zuma was a national shame. “We do not need monuments to corruption and unemployment ... we need healing for the wounds Marikana has inflicted.” – ANA