Democratic Allance leader Mmusi Maimane has called on President Jacob Zuma to serve the nation instead of the ANC‚ the ruling party.

After reports that Zuma said the ANC came first‚ before the country‚ Maimane‚ in a statement released on Monday‚ sought to “remind” the president of his Oath of Office.

In the oath of office‚ Maimane said‚ the president “promised in the presence of the nation’s people to ‘protect and promote the rights of all South Africans’‚ not to promote the rights of only ANC members and; to ‘devote myself to the well-being of the Republic and all of its people’‚ not to devote himself to the well-being of only the ANC and its members”.

He said the president had been an absent leader on a series of issues‚ including “the crippling economy‚ growing unemployment‚ student unrest at the country’s higher learning institutions”.

“In the most recent of instances of President Zuma putting himself and the ANC first is his decision not to denounce the acquisition of a R4 billion jet‚ which the country and its people cannot afford.”

Maimane called on voters to vote out the ANC in forthcoming elections next year‚ and to instead vote for the DA‚ which “understands that South Africa and its interests come before those of the Party”.