Zuma's apology is an insult to the South African people

“A simple apology is all we received from the head of state, along with a feeble excuse of misunderstandings and misguidedness, with a promise of new focus on policy revision related to state expenditure,” says Wayne Duvenage, Chairman of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA). "As far as his and our Government's past performance goes, we are not convinced."

OUTA has noted with increasing concern, the exorbitant and increasing costs associated with many large capital expenditure projects throughout most state owned entities in South Africa. We believe this situation has arisen as a result of cronyism that gives rise to connected appointments and entities whose main purpose is to extract money out of the system. The focus of placing his party and friends before the interests of the nation, has reduced our state owned entities to heightened levels of inefficiency and poorly managed state resources, which do not produce the best results at lowest cost for the people of South Africa.

“We have become an overtaxed and uncompetitive nation and our President, along with the ruling party, appear unable to focus their attention on the dire needs and work required to extricate us from our slide into junk status,” adds Duvenage. “It is unfortunate that on many occasions, when the door has been opened to pave the way to recall Jacob Zuma, the ANC’s top brass slams it shut every time.”

Friday’s response by the State President and the Top Six of the ANC has unfortunately lost an opportunity to seize an historic moment for significant change and instead, has entrenched a lager mentality by our Government which will further alienate us from the international investment community.