Ramaphosa no different than Zuma – Steenhuisen on Phala Phala vote

During the Phala Phala debate in Parliament on Tuesday, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen draw comparisons between President Cyril Ramaphosa and former president Jacob Zuma.

He said Ramaphosa is no different than Zuma, and compared the Nkandla scandal to the Phala Phala scandal.

ANC shielding Ramaphosa

Steenhuisen said Ramaphosa was being shielded by the African National Congress (ANC), which is why it was so easy for Ramaphosa to say 11 days ago he is willing to quit.

Steenhuisen said the decision to resign wasn’t a noble sacrifice to South Africa. Instead, it was because the alternative “was unthinkable and potentially fatal to” the ANC.

“The alternative would mean answering questions before a committee of parliament, about the large stockpile of money you had hidden away in your farmhouse, money that you claimed was nothing other than Christmas day buffalo shopping combined with some lax admin and poor bookkeeping.”

Origin of Phala Phala money questioned

Steenhuisen said not many people in parliament believe that Ramaphosa had been truthful about the origin of the money or what he intended to do it.

Why did you try for two years to cover up any evidence that it even existed?

He said it was only when members within the ANC reminded him how they deal with loose ends within the party that Ramaphosa withdrew his resignation.

“Of course, we’ve been here before and not so long ago. […] We’ve watched the ANC majority shield Jacob Zuma from half a dozen motions of no confidence and one impeachment vote”.

‘Then Nkandla, now Phala Phala’

Steenhuisen said South Africa had to watch on as shameless MPs all nodded in agreement with the ridiculous fire pool video.

“Then it was Nkandla, now its Phala Phala. Then it was a fire pool, now it is couches stuffed with Dollars. Then it was Jacob Zuma, now it is President Cyril Ramaphosa.

He said another similarity was the numbers: “If you have the numbers in parliament, you can make any scandal go away”.

OPINION: It’s a long walk to honesty for ANC

No different than Zuma

Steenhuisen said if this is the outcome Ramaphosa expects and demands of his caucus today, “after everything we’ve been through in the wake of the state capture and the Zondo report, then you, sir, are no different than your predecessor”, Steenhuisen said.

He cited the numerous crises currently plaguing South Africa: Energy, crime, safety, and unemployment, all of which make life nearly unbearable for ordinary citizens.

Prior to Steenhuisen’s speech, speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula ruled against the secret ballot, saying the decision was made for the vote to be a public roll call.

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