The Democratic Alliance (DA) has developed a talent for political greatness, often turning the ANC’s words and actions on the ruling party. Sometimes this grandiosity is foolish… such as when the DA claimed that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) ideas were taken from DA suggestions to him. In some cases, however, the DA is spot on – as it was when it proposed a “voice of distrust” across Ramaphosa’s cabinet. ALSO READ: ANC does not belong to DA, says Mantashe after no-confidence vote Of course, nothing comes out, but it…
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has developed a knack for political greatness, often turning the words and actions of the ANC on the ruling party.
Sometimes this grandiosity is foolish…like when the DA claimed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation (Sona) speech ideas are taken from DA suggestions to him.
In some cases, however, the DA is perfect – as it was when it was a “motion of distrustacross the Ramaphosa cabinet.
ALSO READ: ANC is not from DA, says Mantashe after vote of no confidence
Of course nothing will come of it, but it’s more than a blank gesture because it makes the point most of us have probably suspected all along: There’s no such thing as a good ANC minister.
Political pundits we spoke to agreed with the DA, but went on to shed light on the failed policy of “cadres secondment” — where loyalty to the ANC is the number one requirement for any high office, whether it be the now in government or state-owned companies – which has pushed South Africa a long way down the road to a failed state.
Analyst professor Lesiba Teffo said he disagreed with the DA leader John Steenhuisen that the whole cabinet was useless.
But he made a comment that will not make him popular with the ANC and their fellow travelers.
Teffo said it was always a pleasure for him to hear Steenhuisen speak, because although he did not have a university degree, he sounded more learned, politically mature and more vocal than some “so-called ministers and some PhDs available in parliament”.
READ MORE: DA asks Zondo to file perjury charge against Ramaphosa
He added: “For me, it’s not about the color of the skin, it’s about the content of the character”, noting that it was sad that “not a single white, Indian or white candidate” applied for the position of chief justice, because “they don’t bother applying because they know they don’t qualify”.
Our politics needs a thorough overhaul.