The Congress of the People (COPE) party says it is vindicated for pulling out of Parliament‚ which it says has lost its legitimacy and has degenerated into discord‚ dissension and dishonesty.
“By its shameful failure to act as an independent arm of government‚ through the strength of the ANC caucus‚ neither the president nor the executive are being properly held to account. The present parliament has lost its legitimacy‚” said COPE spokesman Dennis Bloem.
He added that Parliament could not accord President Jacob Zuma respect or legitimacy.
“Mr Zuma broke his oath of office. This was the finding of the apex court. Even so‚ parliament has done nothing to act against him for this very serious violation of the Constitution.
“As a result of the ANC caucus holding sway‚ it pretends to be business as usual. That can never be. While Mr Zuma clings on to power‚ he will not be accepted as president by more and more South Africans. He is shorn of his moral authority‚” Bloem said.
He said the forced removal of the Economic Freedom Fighters ( EFF) from Parliament on Wednesday afternoon‚ and all that the nation was witnessing in the National Assembly was very distressing.
“Decorum has to prevail and mutuality has to obtain. Parliament has to be restored as a place of robust debate but never permitted to be the space for disorderly conduct‚ extreme rudeness and forced removal‚” Bloem said.
He added: “The issue is simple: Mr Zuma has too many criminal charges waiting to be answered. On top of all of that‚ he broke his oath of office. Furthermore he is over-borrowing‚ over-spending on consumption and putting South Africa into a very deep hole. Those who still support him do so out of expediency‚ not conviction. The situation is becoming impossible.
“COPE urges the ruling party to deal decisively with the Zuma issue so that rule of law not only prevails but is seen to be prevailing. It is wrong for the ruling party to whitewash all Mr Zuma’s transgressions and thereby to plunge the country into chaos.”
COPE feels vindicated for pulling out of Parliament
The Congress of the People (COPE) party says it is vindicated for pulling out of Parliament‚ which it says has lost its legitimacy and has degenerated into discord‚ dissension and dishonesty.
“By its shameful failure to act as an independent arm of government‚ through the strength of the ANC caucus‚ neither the president nor the executive are being properly held to account. The present parliament has lost its legitimacy‚” said COPE spokesman Dennis Bloem.
He added that Parliament could not accord President Jacob Zuma respect or legitimacy.
“Mr Zuma broke his oath of office. This was the finding of the apex court. Even so‚ parliament has done nothing to act against him for this very serious violation of the Constitution.
“As a result of the ANC caucus holding sway‚ it pretends to be business as usual. That can never be. While Mr Zuma clings on to power‚ he will not be accepted as president by more and more South Africans. He is shorn of his moral authority‚” Bloem said.
He said the forced removal of the Economic Freedom Fighters ( EFF) from Parliament on Wednesday afternoon‚ and all that the nation was witnessing in the National Assembly was very distressing.
“Decorum has to prevail and mutuality has to obtain. Parliament has to be restored as a place of robust debate but never permitted to be the space for disorderly conduct‚ extreme rudeness and forced removal‚” Bloem said.
He added: “The issue is simple: Mr Zuma has too many criminal charges waiting to be answered. On top of all of that‚ he broke his oath of office. Furthermore he is over-borrowing‚ over-spending on consumption and putting South Africa into a very deep hole. Those who still support him do so out of expediency‚ not conviction. The situation is becoming impossible.
“COPE urges the ruling party to deal decisively with the Zuma issue so that rule of law not only prevails but is seen to be prevailing. It is wrong for the ruling party to whitewash all Mr Zuma’s transgressions and thereby to plunge the country into chaos.”
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