/ 5 June 2016

Opposition parties offering voters ‘hot air’, says Zuma

The 2006 forensic report prepared for Zuma's trial that never saw the light of day ... now made available in the public interest.
The outcome of the ANC’s long-awaited KwaZulu-Natal conference was a win for the Thuma Mina crowd. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

NELSPRUIT, June 5 (ANA) – Ideologically bankrupt opposition parties have nothing to offer South Africans ahead of the August 3 municipal elections and consistently subvert democracy by seeking court intervention, President Jacob Zuma said on Sunday.

“We should remind our people that the ANC remains the only organisation that has the capacity, experience, and track record to improve their lives. When election comes, many talk to much, saying all the empty things, showing that they have nothing to say. From morning to sunset they talk about the ANC,” Zuma told thousands of supporters at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit in Mpumalanga.

“They don’t realise that they popularise the ANC. They have nothing to offer except just hot air. They all wait until the ANC presents its manifesto, then they copy, they cut, and paste, and say it is their own manifestos. If you are a logical voter… I wonder why you vote for people who talk just hot air.”

Zuma said the African National Congress critics were “small and they will never grow”.

“They have never ruled any country. They have no experience. They have no machinery. They have got nothing except their voices. That is why they resort to insults at times.”

Instead on relying on political clout, the opposition parties wanted to “rely on courts of law”.

“Every day they go to court. They can’t argue any issue. Only the judges must argue for their points. They even threaten that they will go to court. This is democracy. Democracy is not court,” said Zuma.

Zuma was received with thunderous cheering, screaming, and singing when he arrived at the stadium on Sunday afternoon for the launch of the ANC’s Mpumalanga August 3 municipal elections manifesto.

Accompanied by Mpumalanga premier and provincial ANC chairman David Mabuza, Zuma walked around the turf waving his flat cap at supporters. He was escorted by a large contingent of bodyguards and ANC marshals.

Zuma took his seat near the podium shortly before 1pm. The 41-000-seat stadium was nearly full when Zuma arrived.

Mabuza said groundwork had been intensively done in the province and the party was hoping for a 90 percent victory in the tightly-contested August 3 local government elections.

On Saturday, more than 80,000 ANC supporters packed the gigantic FNB Stadium in Johannesburg for the Gauteng ANC manifesto launch.

– African News Agency (ANA)

Disclaimer: This story is pulled directly from the African News Agency wire, and has not been edited by Mail & Guardian staff. The M&G does not accept responsibility for errors in any statement, quote or extract that may be contained therein.