Cape Town – Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen has taken a swipe at the African National Congress (ANC), saying that history is repeating itself and the ruling party is shielding a sitting president from accountability.
“There is no difference between Zuma’s nine wasted years and the current dispensation. Then it was Nkandla, now it’s Phala Phala. Then it was fire pools and cattle kraals, now it’s couches stuffed with dollars. Then it was President Jacob Zuma, now it’s President Cyril Ramaphosa,” Steenhuisen said while speaking in the National Assembly ahead of a vote to establish an ad hoc parliamentary committee to investigate the Phala Phala game farm saga.
There is no difference between Zuma’s 9 wasted years and the current dispensation. Then it was Nkandla. Now it’s Phala Phala. Then it was fire pools and cattle kraals. Now its couches stuffed with dollars. Then it was President Jacob Zuma. Now it’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. pic.twitter.com/lXycczoB7J
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) March 22, 2023
According to Times Live, Steenhuisen said: “The truth will come out on Phala Phala — no matter how hard the ANC tries to hold back the tide. And yes, there will come a day of reckoning for each member of the National Assembly to yet again account for what you did when your name was called.”
Despite Steenhuisen’s remarks, 204 MPs voted against the motion, while 135 voted in favour of the establishment of the ad-hoc committee on Wednesday.
Most opposition parties — EFF, IFP, FF+, ACDP, UDM and ATM — voted in favour of the motion. However, their votes were insufficient to beat the ANC.
According to The Citizen, the ANC said it rejected the establishment of the ad-hoc committee because the DA’s proposal already had a “predetermined” conclusion that Ramaphosa was guilty.
“This violates his right to presumption of innocence. It’s opportunistic because the motion of the establishment of an ad-hoc committee ignores findings of the Sars and Public Protector. This motion risks undermining the authority and legitimacy of the National Assembly to hold the executive to account.
“It gives the impression that the National Assembly is willing to interfere with the work of the Hawks and other law enforcement agencies. There is no evidence that President Ramaphosa committed any crime. Opposition is extremely desperate. We have elections next year but they can’t use their energy to mobilise the masses for their cause. We will win this election and they will remain as opposition,” the report quoted the party as saying.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
