About your legacy, Mr Mantashe

DEAR Mr Mantashe, at the Gauteng ANC conference last week you claimed that it was pointless recalling Jacob Zuma as this would not solve all the country’s problems.

Any ordinary South African will tell you that the great majority of our problems would be removed along with Zuma. The never-ending scandals related to his leadership are well-documented.

The resulting damage to the economy, to investments, to job creation, to uplifting the poor, to loss of funding for housing, schools and hospitals, have been well documented.

Hard evidence exists of the Guptas’ capture of government officials and state entities and the resultant loss of billions in corrupt activities.

Who is aiding and abetting the Guptas, if not Zuma?

Who appointed ministers Des van Rooyen, Bathabile Dlamini, Mosebenzi Zwane, Nomvula Mokonyane and other incompetents in parastatals, if not Zuma?

Who authorised the landing of the Guptas’ plane at Waterkloof and then promoted the fall guy Bruce Koloane to ambassador, if not Zuma? Who violated his oath of office and who faces 783 criminal charges? Who has spent millions of taxpayers’ money to stay out of jail?

Whose five wives and 20-plus children are a drain on government coffers? Whose son is assisting the Guptas to rape and pillage the country?

Mr Mantashe, are these not sufficient grounds to impeach or recall Zuma? You have stated more than once that the ANC deals internally with its own problems, so when on earth are you going to have the balls to do what is right for South Africa?

I remind you of the utterance of the Chief Justice on the no-confidence issue: “Members are required to swear or affirm faithfulness to the Republic and obedience to the constitution and laws. Nowhere does the supreme law provide for them to swear allegiance to their political parties…”

So Mr Mantashe, you and your NEC cronies, among them Jessie Duarte and Baleka Mbete, are guilty of contravening this constitutional mandate by putting the ANC before country. History will judge you for aiding and abetting a criminal who was instrumental in bringing the country to its knees. Hartbeespoort