DA Leader John Steenhuisen has slammed the ANC ahead of the 2022 SONA address later this week. Photo: File
DA Leader John Steenhuisen has slammed the ANC ahead of the 2022 SONA address later this week. Photo: File
The DA have taken their time to publish an official response to Jacob Zuma’s incarceration. However, they’ve come through with a stinging rebuke of the former president’s blatant disregard of the law. Party leader John Steenhuisen has welcomed the 15-month jail sentence handed down to Msholozi, but now has a thirst for more prosecutions.
Zuma, of course, is still awaiting trial in his corruption and fraud case. That’s still crawling along in Pietermaritzburg, but it has been blighted by a constant stream of delays. JZ’s Stalingrad defence collapsed this week, however, and Steenhuisen sees this as a golden opportunity to hold the 79-year-old responsible for alleged acts of corruption
“This 15 month sentence is merely the tip of the iceberg. The contempt of court charge, while serious, does not represent his actual crimes against the people of South Africa, and we must still see justice for the charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, and racketeering.” | John Steenhuisen
Last night’s #ZumaArrest also confirms that, while Zuma might have done untold damage to many of our institutions of democracy throughout the ANC’s State Capture project, the one institution that has managed to remain largely intact is our independent judiciary. – @jsteenhuisen
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) July 8, 2021
Steenhuisen is also rallying against the rest of Zuma’s allies, and the so-called ‘RET faction’ of the party. Loyalists to the former president, some of whom attending illegal gatherings at Nkandla over the weekend, still hold powerful positions within the ANC. Meanwhile, uBaba’s most vocal cheerleader – Carl Niehaus – has been suspended from the party.
“Zuma might be behind bars, but the RET gang still has many other senior ANC leaders in its ranks – many of whom still serve in Ramaphosa’s cabinet or occupy ANC benches in the National Assembly – and their fightback is guaranteed.”
“The arrest last night was a small step in the right direction. But the real fight to reclaim our country from predatory politicians who have robbed from the people to enrich themselves and their networks has only just started.”