Opposition parties have torn into President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). They were taking part in a debate in Parliament on the SONA which President Zuma delivered last week.
They have expressed concern about government’s handling of the economy. The leader of the official opposition Mmusi Maimane accused President Jacob Zuma of being out of touch with South Africans.
“On Planet Zuma, there is no jobs crisis. This is why, in the President’s speech, we didn’t hear anything about the 8.3 million South Africans who are jobless. On Planet Zuma, all children have access to a quality education. This must be why the President didn’t mention basic education once. On Planet Zuma, our state owned enterprises are, in the words of the President, “performing well”. Madam Speaker, the President lived up to our expectations on Thursday. We expected to hear the empty words of a man out of touch with the people.”
Some also questioned the government’s handling of the economy. Economic Freedom Fighters Leader, Julius Malema, says many South Africans are still trapped in abject poverty.
Inkatha Freedom Party leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, says while President Zuma has tried to take South Africans into his confidence with a frank discussion, it was too little, too late. But the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, has defended government’s handling of the economy. He says the state of the economy was due to many external factors. While parties are not allowed to discuss matters which are pending before a court of law, some opposition leaders could not resist the temptation to refer to the Constitutional Court case relating to the Nkandla saga and the powers of the Public Protector. According to United Democratic Movement leader, Bantu Holomisa, the President’s surprise announcement that he was willing to pay back the money for some of the non-security upgrades at his private home in Nkandla, has caused more harm to his reputation.
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– By Zalene Merrington
