Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane on Thursday said the “most appropriate pronouncement” President Jacob Zuma could make was to “announce his resignation”.

The DA leader said South Africa continued to suffer from a leadership crisis, as the President hopped from one scandal to the next, all to protect himself and his cronies.

“This while our country remains on the verge of economic meltdown due to low economic growth, spiralling corruption, rising unemployment, a nationwide drought, rising inflation, and failed service delivery. It cannot continue any longer.”

Maimane said: “The most appropriate pronouncement President Zuma could make during his State of the Nation Address (Sona) this evening is to announce his resignation from the highest office in the land”.

Maimane said he had already requested a debate on a motion of no confidence in President Zuma following his catastrophic decision to fire the Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene in December last year.

“This request was agreed to by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, and I push for this to be debated and voted on at the very next sitting of Parliament,” said Maimane.

“However, the President should himself expedite the process of his removal from office by doing the honourable thing and resigning.”

Maimane said when Zuma took his oath of office he swore to be faithful to the Republic of South Africa and to obey, observe, uphold and maintain the Constitution and all other laws of the Republic.

“Following the revelations in the Constitutional Court earlier this week, it is clear that the President didn’t mean a single word he said,” added the DA leader.

He said as many as 8.3-million South Africans could not find a job “because President Zuma has one”.

Maimane added: “The only way South Africans will experience the promise of a better life for all is when Jacob Zuma is no longer the President of our country.”