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Opposition Parties UNITE Behind Putting South Africa First

They say nothing unites people more than a common enemy… and Jacob Zuma has accomplished this in South Africa. In a groundbreaking move today, the leaders of the DA, EFF, IFP, COPE, UDM, and ACDP met in Johannesburg Monday – following what they call the “hostile takeover of the Treasury, and selling of the country” by its […]

By SAPeople Contributor
03-04-17 17:30
in News

They say nothing unites people more than a common enemy… and Jacob Zuma has accomplished this in South Africa. In a groundbreaking move today, the leaders of the DA, EFF, IFP, COPE, UDM, and ACDP met in Johannesburg Monday – following what they call the “hostile takeover of the Treasury, and selling of the country” by its President to a group who they accuse of only being interested in “amassing wealth and weakening the State through the theft of the people’s money and the undermining of the country’s Constitution”.

In a joint statement, the party leaders said these are irregular and trying times for South Africa… and therefore require a united vision and action.

They agreed that the Constitution must come first, and the country be protected from those who seek to undermine it.

The meeting was attended by the DA’s Mmusi Maimane, EFF’s Godrich Gardee and Dali Mpofu, UDM’s Bantu Holomisa, COPE’s Mosiuoa Lekota, IFP’s Mangaqa Mncwango and ACDP’s Kenneth Meshoe.

Opposition Programme of Action

This Programme stems from pre-existing partnerships including opposition-led metros… which show what the opposition can do for the people of SA.

The leaders also agreed on the need for a Summit to discuss the state of South Africa. Going forward, they say, they will sometimes act collectively, and at other times as separate political parties.

National Day of Action to the Union Buildings

The leaders agreed that as Opposition Parties, they will start the process of mobilising their structures from across the country for a National Day of Action to the Union Buildings. We are planning to have this mass action event as soon as possible.

To ensure the call to save South Africa is not fractured, the Opposition Parties will also be engaging Civil Society formations and other Political Parties.

“We therefore call upon all South Africans and the whole of Civil Society to support this mass action, where will speak with one voice calling for Jacob Zuma to remove himself from the Union Buildings, failing which he will be pushed, using democratic processes. Zuma cannot hold an entire country hostage,” said the statement by Official Opposition Leaders spokesperson Mabine Seabe.

Motion of No Confidence

Opposition Parties are fully behind the Motion of No Confidence in Jacob Zuma and the call for the Speaker of the National Assembly to reconvene the House for a special sitting so that this matter of National Importance can be debated and voted on. The DA and EFF have already asked the Speaker to reconvene Parliament. The UDM have submitted a similar request today.

The parties expect an urgent answer from the Speaker. They stressed the motion is about the removal of Jacob Zuma, and not the removal of the ANC.

Court Cases

 The Opposition support the two court cases which are currently before the Judiciary:

  1. The DA will be submitting papers for a Review Application which seeks to test the legal rationality of Jacob Zuma’s disastrous Cabinet Reshuffle.
  2. The EFF, UDM and COPE are currently before the Constitutional Court to probe the process and duty of Parliament to facilitate the impeachment of the President.

Conclusion

Opposition Party Leaders said they are united in their call for Zuma to go and in their belief in the supremacy of the Constitution.

The choice South Africans must make is: Zuma or South Africa. The two cannot co-exist, they said.