Opposition parties lament Jacob Zuma's re-election as ANC president

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Opposition political parties have commented on the outcome of the ANC's elective conference which restored Jacob Zuma to the party presidency.

Geordin Hill-Lewis, the spokesperson for DA leader Helen Zille, says while personal congratulations to the winner of an election are always in order, Zuma's re-election is not good news for South Africa.

"President's Zuma's re-election sends out the clear message to ANC members around the country that it is acceptable to use positions in government for personal enrichment, and not for public service," he said.

"It sends out the message that corruption and the abuse of public funds for personal gain is acceptable in the ANC, and that there will be no consequences for the guilty. And it sends out the message that the ANC is the kind of party that puts powerful people above the law.

UDM leader, Bantu Holomisa, also cautioned that "the challenge facing the members of the ANC is to convince the population of South Africa that we must continue to be led by people who have an albatross around their necks. The albatross being the suspicion that they are involved in the abuse of state resources and corruption."