THE Democratic Alliance has said South Africa needs a “new beginning” but without the ruling African National Congress (ANC) it accused of collapsing “our country and the economy”.
The DA in its 2017 Government Report Card – an appraisal of the ANC government’s performance during the year - said “this is one of the most disconcerting years in our young democracy”.
“2017 will go down in history as one of the most disconcerting years in our young democracy, as the ANC-led national government stooped to new lows in their abuse of power, excessive looting, and shameless execution of state capture without a hint of restraint.
“With ever-increasing unemployment, half of South Africans living in poverty, a social grants crisis, a 12th cabinet reshuffle, the horrifying Esidimeni tragedy, and the downgrading of our economy to “junk status”, the ANC has collapsed our country and its economy,” the DA said.
A number of top government officials, including President Jacob Zuma charges of graft.
In October, the South African Supreme Court of Appeal ruled Zuma can face prosecution over the 783 corruption charges relation to a 1990’s arms deal.
Zuma and other government officials were accused of taking kickbacks from the $5bn purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and other arms manufactured by five European firms, including British military equipment maker BAE Systems and French company Thales.
The DA added: ‘Despite this grim picture of our nation, there is still hope. The ANC has approximately 18 months left in office before the 2019 elections. Our nation desperately needs a new beginning and that new beginning will come in 2019, when the voters of South Africa reject the ANC at the polls and elect a DA-led coalition government.
“The ANC cannot self-correct, and is past the point of no return.”
