The South African moderate-liberal parliamentarian opines: "While Mr. Zuma is busy selling South Africa as an investor-friendly market at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, his actions back home, and those of the party he leads, are working towards the opposite goal. While the government talks up investment abroad, the ANC [African National Congress] seems intent on crushing it at home. Indeed, just two weeks after his party deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa labelled him 'action man', Mr. Zuma's inaction on critical issues makes it clear that he is determined to prove him wrong."
MP Mazibuko continues her commentary: "At a fundraising breakfast with private sector businesses, President Zuma stated that businesses which support the ANC will see their fortunes 'multiply'. Mr. Zuma has to date failed to provide a clarification as to his statement, nor has he distanced himself from the prejudicial and insulting remarks made in his defence by ANC spokesperson, Jackson Mthembu. Mr Zuma has not taken any visible steps to address the on-going tensions between organised labour, the Minister of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, and AMPLATS following the mine's decision to retrench 14000 workers. Instead of taking action himself, he has allowed ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe to take the lead. It is deeply inappropriate for a political party representative to fulfill the responsibilities of the government, and is further evidence of the unlawful conflation of party and state which continues unchecked under the ANC."
More: "The Presidency also remains unwilling to address the looting of public funds for the upgrade of ministerial houses, at a cost of R65 million [US$7.2 million] to the public. The continued excessive and unwarranted expenditure on "executive perks", in the face of extreme poverty and inequality, demands immediate intervention from the highest office, along with an unequivocal commitment that no such waste will be tolerated. But given that the president failed to hold himself to this standard, continuing with a R250 million [US$27.7 million] upgrade to his private home, it is likely that the silence will continue."
