Propaganda Ministry puts South Africa on the road to oppression

Propaganda Ministry puts South Africa on the road to oppression

By BRIAN KAJENGO 

Lindiwe Mazibuko started by saying just looking around today, I see South Africans who are happy, not because things are going well, but South Africans who are happy in spite of the fact that this town is suffering.

 “ENtokozweni is suffering like hundreds of towns in Mpumalanga and around South Africa.

 “Abantu based South Africa baswele ngaphansi kukahulumeni we - ANC, ohlulekile ukunikezela ngamanzi nokuthuthwa kwendle.Uhulumeni ohlulekile ukunikezela ngemfundo esezingeni eliphezulu.Uhulumeni ohlulekile ukunikezela ngemisebenzi.

 “South Africans are suffering under an ANC government that has failed to deliver clean water and sanitation.

“ANC failed to deliver quality education. A government failed to deliver jobs.” Lindiwe Mazibuko said.

 Mazibuko says this is why many residents of this town must drive an hour away to the Komati mine just in the hope of getting some contract work. Contract work helps. But it is not a job. It doesn’t pay the bills every month. 

“It doesn’t help us to feed our families every single day of the year. But still, in spite of all this, the people of eNtokozweni still manage to smile and welcome us with such warmth today. This is a testament to our South African spirit. Even in the face of poverty and despair – we are grateful for our families and the little hope that we have left.’’ Mazibuko said. 

Mazibuko confirmed to the supporters that at first, there was progress. The ANC helped many South Africans. 

“But with each election that the ANC won, the ANC started to change. With every election that the ANC won, the more arrogant, complacent and corrupt the ANC became.” She said.

Mazibuko like any other opposition political leaders blames President Zuma’s ANC for taking your money and wastes it on million rand cars, luxury hotels and Nkandlas.”

’’Corruption has infiltrated every single office of the ANC.In his State of the Province Address this year, Premier David Mabuza described corruption as a cancer that eats away meagre resources meant for the poor. But Premier Mabuza is the first to take these “meagre resources” away from the poor and buy him R5 million luxury cars with public money. So how can he complain when President Zuma also takes R246 million that meant for the poor to build himself a huge palace at Nkandla?” Mazibuko said.

Lindiwe Mazibuko says ANC only fights to defend President Zuma and his corruption so that they themselves can carry on looting the resources that meant for the poor.

 Mazibuko blames ANC to have hijacked the legacy of President Nelson Mandela when South Africa honour 20 years of democracy.

“While we honoured Madiba’s legacy outside the doors of Parliament, the ANC was working hard to destroy that legacy inside Parliament. On the special committee that the Speaker established to investigate President Zuma’s involvement in the corruption at Nkandla, the ANC was there with one instruction from Luthuli House – protect President Zuma!” she said.

Mazibuko went on to say one of the ANC MPs even said with pride that he was there to fulfil the instructions of Luthuli House. He even bragged that he was not representing the people of South Africa in Parliament – only his bosses in the ANC.

“The ANC even issued a veiled threat to the opposition. They said that we are lucky to live in a country where the president subjected to investigation without people turning up in body-bags. Body-bags? Right in Parliament,” said Mazibuko.

Mazibuko says comments like this threaten our hard won democracy. It risks putting us back on the road to oppression. If the ANC had the will, they would fight corruption.  

“They tried to “classify” one of the reports on Nkandla as secret, when it wasn’t. They write laws like the Secrecy Bill so that they can keep ANC corruption a secret.And now, Zuma’s ANC wants to set up a Propaganda Ministry.” Mazibuko said. 

Mazibuko says other countries that also have so-called “Information Ministries” include Zimbabwe, Russia, and China. In fact, the last time South Africa had an information ministry was under apartheid. There can be no clearer sign that the ANC wants to take us off the road towards a mature democracy, and put us on the road to a one party state.

“A propaganda ministry can only undermine freedom of information and freedom of speech. It will undermine the ability of journalists to expose corruption. And it fought with everything we have!” She said.

She says DA will continue to fight for justice until President Zuma answers for his role in the Nkandla scandal. We will fight against corruption. We will fight against any Propaganda Ministry. And we will fight for jobs in South Africa.