Democratic Alliance Leader Mmusi Maimane has threatened to drag President Jacob Zuma to court again over his alleged purchase of a R4-billion presidential jet.
Maimane made the threats on 27 April while addressing hundreds of his party supporters at Zandspruit squatter camp in Johannesburg north.
“This government is in the process of buying a new jet for Jacob Zuma. This is not a priority to this nation. What is wrong with the ones which he is using? This R4 billion should be used to improve the lives of people in Zandspruit,” said Maimane, amid wild cheers from his listeners.
Maimane lamented the squalid conditions which Zandspruit residents were living in, which he described as a clear testimony to the ANC’s inefficiency.
“You were not asking for preferential treatment when you went into the streets demanding basic services like water, electricity or housing. This is what any government should provide to its citizens. But burning tyres alone is not enough, you have to do to the ANC what you did to the Apartheid government, which you voted out,” said Maimane.
The tough-talking Maimane accused the ANC of letting down Mandela. “What we are seeing today is not what Mandela stood for,” said Maimane.
The DA leadership descended on the informal settlement canvassing for votes in the upcoming local government elections.
DA Mayoral candidate, Herman Mashaba, told Zandspruit residents that their living conditions were undisputed human rights violations. “We have taken this case to the Human Rights Commission, people can’t live in such conditions,” said Mashaba while addressing the same audience. He also appealed to residents to come out in their millions on 3 August and vote the ANC out.
“You have an option on 3 August to fire this council which is letting you stay in such conditions,” said Mashaba.