Date: 15/02/2010
Source: Congress of the People
Title: Cope: Shilowa: Address by the Deputy President, during the Debate on the State of the Nation Address, Parliament

The Zuma train grounds to a halt

Honourable Speaker
Honourable Members

The input by Members Dandala, Ndude, Kotsi, and George of Cope all indicate that we have no confidence in the current government and intend to move in due course for a no confidence debate. We hope that adequate time for a meaningful and substantive debate will be made available by parliament. The reasons will be furnished during the debate but include misconduct, bringing the office of the Presidency into disrepute, incompetence, absence of concrete plans on the economy, jobs, poverty, health, education, social and economic infrastructure.

I will not dwell on the legacy of Madiba since these have been covered by many speakers save to add that the unbanning of political parties, the release of Madiba and other political prisoners, the subsequent negotiations and Mandela ascendency to power in 1994 sounded the final death knell on state sponsored racism.

The hosting of the world in a free South Africa for the FIFA world cup tournament will be a historic tribute to the struggles and sacrifice of this great leader.

Long may this icon live!

I must however add that I was astounded at how suddenly PW Botha, someone who killed many of our people in raids across what were then frontline states is now feted as a hero. Someone who sent countless young white South Africans against their will to Angola and Namibia is now a hero to the party of liberation. This is an affront not only to those who died, but also to those who were sent to jail for refusing to be conscripted to the army. Yet someone like Thabo Mbeki, who played a considerable road in securing our democracy did not warrant a mention. What a shame!

In May 2009 you were ushered into office amidst a huge fanfare where even your opponents were forced by the overwhelming occasion and its subsequent reception to reluctantly give you the benefit of the doubt. We wished you success in the service of our people.

You arrived like a well-oiled steam engine, ready to take off with all on board. You pronounced the destination the Zuma train was going to take with very little evidence that you could get there. You seemed convincing to many, nevertheless.

Nine months down the line, the Zuma train is still at the same station, same platform; with the same passengers; with exactly the same intentions. The only promise being that it will now be faster. How a train that is at a standstill can move faster remains a mystery to me.

It appears that the train has ground to a halt!

The Congress of the People had warned at the time that there was an enormous difference between the tough reality of the harsh economic conditions and a political party fantasy. The dose of political castle in the sky that you opted for has unfortunately caught up with you in no time.

It is this reality that forced you to shy away from any substantive input in addressing the real state of the nation. This absence in action has been the hallmark of the last nine months while this great nation is crying out for inspirational and decisive leaders.

A close examination of your understanding of the state of this nation - gives an impression of a president who is not in touch with the realities of our people. We have previously warned that we must never play politics with the plight of our suffering people.

Whereas the ANC promised South Africans quality decent jobs, they are now told to be content with part time jobs. You have no stimulus package, no plan to grow the economy, just another promise of a new industrial policy.

Your unsubstantiated claim that 480 000 job opportunities have been created sounds immoral and indeed a grandstanding of the worst kind. We challenge your government to furnish this House with the average number of man-days each worker has performed, average contract and the amount each person has received.

We agree with workers who complain about ZAKUMI being manufactured in China, thus taking the work of South African workers to China. The culprit, an ANC MP. The ANC's commitment to helping the manufacturing sector now rings hollow. Maybe just as in the Hitachi case, the ruling party stands to benefit from the contract.

Before talking about expanding our road network, let's talk about ability to maintain the existing road networks. The potholes on our roads in all provinces have turned into dam-holes. Some of them can even accommodate the whole tree.

I was amazed to hear the President talk of a new idea of a wage subsidy. A cursory reading of a state of the nation address by Thabo Mbeki a few years back, will tell you that this is no new idea, nor is it a rabbit. You have to try something else.

The post election period was followed by service-delivery related protests-a trend similar to that of the post 2004 election-mainly due to the dysfunctional municipalities in providing basic services such as running water, electricity, toilets, and other bread and butter issues of multifaceted deprivation in access to employment opportunities, schooling, healthcare facilities, schools and transport infrastructure.

Your failure to contextualize the protest and provide government strategy in combating these protests that have their main root in your party - is alarming.

When you and your allies supported such disorder and chaos in Merafong for sheer political expediency, didn't you think it would catch up with you? It is interesting to note that even after you overturned the Merafong decision - Khutsong has reared its ugly head again.

You went to Balfour and promised to deal with their issues. It is a matter of course that they too have realised they were sold a dummy and are once more in revolt. Your response? Another delegation will be sent. You cannot fool all the people all the time.

Rural development is more than the building of a few houses in Miyexe village. What the country cries for is water, sanitation, electricity, social and economic infrastructure, farming and assistance with implements and access to markets.

A lot has been said about the absence of health workers, medication and over expenditure in our health institution. What our people want is not another plan, but delivery on what they were promised.

Our fight against the scourge of HIV and AIDS especially the ABC slogan now lie in tatters not withstanding what was said by the minister of health from this very podium. It is becong difficult to call the nation to abstain, to be faithful and to condomise. It is time we walk the talk if we are to be believed.

Speaker, we don't have to visit the Presidential Hotline call centre to know that it is not functioning. We just have to call thye hotline to receive the standard answer: ‘we are experiencing large volume of calls, please call later'.

Passengers have to come to the realisation that there may be nothing wrong with the train, the problem, is the maintenance team and the driver. Curiously, they did not realise that the train was on autopilot. Mr President the honeymoon is long over, if you may excuse the pun. Our people cannot just eat promises and grand plans. They need decisive leadership and vision.