The only conclusion that can be drawn from President Jacob Zuma’s latest Cabinet reshuffle is that South Africa is leaderless‚ and simply rotating Cabinet positions will not address the deepening economic crisis‚ says trade union leader Zwelinzima Vavi.
“We are on a rollercoaster without a driver‚ and we are about to come off the rails. The captains of the ship of state are about to run aground‚ and are completely discredited and enjoy no credibility or moral authority with those they are supposed to protect and represent‚” Vavi asserted on Tuesday.
“In my considered view‚ the entire membership of President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet together with the members of the ANC National Executive Committee must take full responsibility for collectively betraying the trust of the working class and step down‚” he added.
“This is not a crisis caused by an individual‚ but by a collective‚ and responsibility for it must be placed on all those who helped create the crisis‚ including those who stayed quiet when they know in their conscience that what was happening was wrong‚ and damaging the working class and the poor.”
Vavi‚ who is the former General Secretary of Congress of South African Trade Unions‚ and current Vice-Chairperson of the Millennium Labour Council‚ said that for workers‚ it did not matter whether Pravin Gordhan or Nhlanhla Nene were Finance Minister.
“All of them‚ from 1994 onwards have been using the same medicine in different bottles. That medicine is austerity‚ and it is lethal‚ and will not cure poverty or unemployment.”
Vavi added that the agenda to domesticate critical institutions and organs of people’s power was being completed.
“The SAPS‚ Intelligence institutions‚ SAA‚ SABC‚ ESKOM‚ PetroSA‚ IEC‚ DBSA‚ etc.‚ have been hollowed out and the very sinews of our young democracy are being undermined. COSATU‚ SACP‚ ANCYL and ANCWL are shadows of their former selves. The ANC itself is losing the last vestige of its moral authority. In fact many think it has lost its authority altogether‚” he stated.
“We can go on and on to show countless examples where our Cabinet and ANC NEC has chosen to either keep quiet or joined in the destruction of our had won democracy. President Zuma‚ the Cabinet and ANC NEC must go. The 2019 elections should be brought forward held on a completely new environment to address weaknesses that have emerged‚” Vavi added.
He called for changes to the electoral system‚ including allowing the electorate to directly elect the President‚ premiers and mayors.
He also advocated reforming the electoral system to make it at least 75% constituency based.
“This will go a long way of ending the ravages and destruction caused by the proportional representation‚ which allows a controlling faction to dictate the terms of deployment.”
SA about to ‘come off the rails’‚ Vavi warns
“We are on a rollercoaster without a driver‚ and we are about to come off the rails. The captains of the ship of state are about to run aground‚ and are completely discredited and enjoy no credibility or moral authority with those they are supposed to protect and represent‚” Vavi asserted on Tuesday.
“In my considered view‚ the entire membership of President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet together with the members of the ANC National Executive Committee must take full responsibility for collectively betraying the trust of the working class and step down‚” he added.
“This is not a crisis caused by an individual‚ but by a collective‚ and responsibility for it must be placed on all those who helped create the crisis‚ including those who stayed quiet when they know in their conscience that what was happening was wrong‚ and damaging the working class and the poor.”
Vavi‚ who is the former General Secretary of Congress of South African Trade Unions‚ and current Vice-Chairperson of the Millennium Labour Council‚ said that for workers‚ it did not matter whether Pravin Gordhan or Nhlanhla Nene were Finance Minister.
“All of them‚ from 1994 onwards have been using the same medicine in different bottles. That medicine is austerity‚ and it is lethal‚ and will not cure poverty or unemployment.”
Vavi added that the agenda to domesticate critical institutions and organs of people’s power was being completed.
“The SAPS‚ Intelligence institutions‚ SAA‚ SABC‚ ESKOM‚ PetroSA‚ IEC‚ DBSA‚ etc.‚ have been hollowed out and the very sinews of our young democracy are being undermined. COSATU‚ SACP‚ ANCYL and ANCWL are shadows of their former selves. The ANC itself is losing the last vestige of its moral authority. In fact many think it has lost its authority altogether‚” he stated.
“We can go on and on to show countless examples where our Cabinet and ANC NEC has chosen to either keep quiet or joined in the destruction of our had won democracy. President Zuma‚ the Cabinet and ANC NEC must go. The 2019 elections should be brought forward held on a completely new environment to address weaknesses that have emerged‚” Vavi added.
He called for changes to the electoral system‚ including allowing the electorate to directly elect the President‚ premiers and mayors.
He also advocated reforming the electoral system to make it at least 75% constituency based.
“This will go a long way of ending the ravages and destruction caused by the proportional representation‚ which allows a controlling faction to dictate the terms of deployment.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos