The Congress of the People (COPE), a political party of South Africa, issued a statement condemning President Jacob Zuma's intentions to capture SARS and treasury. COPE calls Zuma a desperate individual who believes Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan is standing in his way.
Here is the statement.
ZUMA DESPERATE TO CAPTURE SARS & NATIONAL TREASURY USING THE HAWKS
Cope is not shocked to learn in media reports that Minster Pravin Gordhan is under investigation by the Hawks. We accept that we are dealing with a desperate individual called Jacob Zuma. Gordhan is standing in his way.
The proxy war we are now witnessing is the next Nkandla episode. It is
round two in the attempt to capture SARS and the National Treasury.
To meet the requirements of the “payback the money” clamour and to ensure an escape from tax liability after the Nkandla account, as determined by Thuli Madonsela is settled, it is necessary for the incumbent of the top post to have his former MK comrades fully in charge of SARS and of the National Treasury. He will now need protection on the money front.
We saw how Des van Rooyen wasted not a second in sending two representatives to Treasury with a mandate to start signing cheques there and then. This gambit instantly revealed the game plan of Mr Zuma having Des van Rooyen as Minister of Finance.
The first attempt of powerful actors in the ruling to seize the National Treasury was stopped just in time because of the billions that were instantly wiped off. The business community revolted. The upper echelons of the ruling party, however, didn't care. Those who had set their hearts and minds on grabbing all they could, as they have been doing since 2009, accepted the set back as being temporary. Now starts round two in the attempt to grab SARS and the National Treasury. The first failed action will now be followed by a second but more desperate attempt. No hostages will be taken. Pravin Gordhan stands surrounded by hostile foes.
The legal battle for the man at the top has been lost. The battle for the loot, however, continues.
Up to now the majority party in the legislature has dismally failed in its sacred duty to exercise scrutiny over the executive. ANC MPs have been excited watchers on the side line or active abettors of the schemes hatched by the powerful to rob and despoil at will. These MPs have shown no commitment whatsoever to voters. Neither have they shown any backbone. they allowed the alarming drift that Thabo Mbeki warned about to become a turbulent whirlpool. They sold out.
South Africa, therefore, has now entered its most dangerous period since 1994. Tensions are rife everywhere and these tensions are becoming red hot. The cost of living is rising faster than earnings and hunger is a reality for most people. The rand is becoming punier by the day. Things are getting tighter and worse by the day. The time has certainly come for parliament to put an end to government guarantees and bail outs for SOEs and state entities. The time has come for the legislature to stand united in defence of the Constitution, in defence of an autonomous SARS and in defence of a National Treasury free of political interference. Taxpayers need protection from predatory politicians. Party loyalties must give way to what is good in the common national interest. The capture of SARS and of the National Treasury must be stopped in its track through united action in the legislature.
Mr Zuma, clearly, is still hell bent on getting Des van Rooyen, in his estimation the most highly qualified man to be Minister of Finance, to head the Finance ministry. He needs him there to serve his own interest and that of his friends in SAA and elsewhere. The nation must never allow that. We are almost bankrupt. Des van Rooyen will take us over the edge.
The ball is now in the court of the ruling party MPs. Will they meekly allow the man at the top to capture SARS and the national treasury? Or, will they stand with the Minister of Finance as he attempts to save the country from fiscal disaster? That is the question.
Cope warns Mr Zuma that its members will not sit with arms folded and let him loot the treasury. COPE will put up a fight like its members had put up against PW Botha’s regime.
Dennis Bloem
Spokesperson
To meet the requirements of the “payback the money” clamour and to ensure an escape from tax liability after the Nkandla account, as determined by Thuli Madonsela is settled, it is necessary for the incumbent of the top post to have his former MK comrades fully in charge of SARS and of the National Treasury. He will now need protection on the money front.
We saw how Des van Rooyen wasted not a second in sending two representatives to Treasury with a mandate to start signing cheques there and then. This gambit instantly revealed the game plan of Mr Zuma having Des van Rooyen as Minister of Finance.
The first attempt of powerful actors in the ruling to seize the National Treasury was stopped just in time because of the billions that were instantly wiped off. The business community revolted. The upper echelons of the ruling party, however, didn't care. Those who had set their hearts and minds on grabbing all they could, as they have been doing since 2009, accepted the set back as being temporary. Now starts round two in the attempt to grab SARS and the National Treasury. The first failed action will now be followed by a second but more desperate attempt. No hostages will be taken. Pravin Gordhan stands surrounded by hostile foes.
The legal battle for the man at the top has been lost. The battle for the loot, however, continues.
Up to now the majority party in the legislature has dismally failed in its sacred duty to exercise scrutiny over the executive. ANC MPs have been excited watchers on the side line or active abettors of the schemes hatched by the powerful to rob and despoil at will. These MPs have shown no commitment whatsoever to voters. Neither have they shown any backbone. they allowed the alarming drift that Thabo Mbeki warned about to become a turbulent whirlpool. They sold out.
South Africa, therefore, has now entered its most dangerous period since 1994. Tensions are rife everywhere and these tensions are becoming red hot. The cost of living is rising faster than earnings and hunger is a reality for most people. The rand is becoming punier by the day. Things are getting tighter and worse by the day. The time has certainly come for parliament to put an end to government guarantees and bail outs for SOEs and state entities. The time has come for the legislature to stand united in defence of the Constitution, in defence of an autonomous SARS and in defence of a National Treasury free of political interference. Taxpayers need protection from predatory politicians. Party loyalties must give way to what is good in the common national interest. The capture of SARS and of the National Treasury must be stopped in its track through united action in the legislature.
Mr Zuma, clearly, is still hell bent on getting Des van Rooyen, in his estimation the most highly qualified man to be Minister of Finance, to head the Finance ministry. He needs him there to serve his own interest and that of his friends in SAA and elsewhere. The nation must never allow that. We are almost bankrupt. Des van Rooyen will take us over the edge.
The ball is now in the court of the ruling party MPs. Will they meekly allow the man at the top to capture SARS and the national treasury? Or, will they stand with the Minister of Finance as he attempts to save the country from fiscal disaster? That is the question.
Cope warns Mr Zuma that its members will not sit with arms folded and let him loot the treasury. COPE will put up a fight like its members had put up against PW Botha’s regime.
Dennis Bloem
Spokesperson
No comments:
Post a Comment