Holomisa lauds opposition parties for holding ANC to account, despite pushback
United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa has lauded opposition parties in Parliament for holding the executive accountable.
Holomisa joined other panelists in debating the African National Congress’ (ANC) political value in governing the post-apartheid South Africa.
He said opposition parties hadn’t allowed the ANC to go unchecked.
But he admitted on Wednesday that the outnumbered opposition parties experienced some pushback from the governing party.
“The role of Parliament in this country is well-documented. The opposition parties will always lead in calling for the executive to come and account but unfortunately, the ANC’s philosophy is that if they are in a tight corner, or if one of theirs is in trouble, they normally close ranks around that person and put the interest of the party ahead of the country,” said Holomisa.
He added the rot in the ANC-led government could be solely blamed on former president Jacob Zuma and his Gupta allies.
“The corruption has been institutionalised as far as 1995/6 - you remember Sarafina ll when R48 million just disappeared and no investigation was conducted? So comes the Arms Deal and so on, the list is too long.
“You cannot, therefore, out the blame squarely on Zuma and his Guptas only, who arrived late.”
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Holomisa said the party’s step-aside resolution and the party’s other accountability mechanisms would bear no fruit.
“These chaps have been looting the resources of the state and for anyone to expect that they are going to self-correct, you’re wasting your time.
“We can no longer wait for them because that would mean we will be re-buried.
“Imagine those billions of ranks, if they were not looted or channelled to Luthuli House for salaries, for rallies, for conferences - the service delivery in this country would have been improved by now, tremendously.”
He believes the ANC’s days in governance are numbered.
Listen to Bantu Holomisa below:
