DA to Ramaphosa: Clean up your cabinet while SA cleans the streets

Police Minister Bheki Cele and State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo have come under fire in recent days for a perceived failure to get a handle of the unrest that cost the country billions of rands and led to the deaths of 212 people.

This after looters took to warehouses, malls and factories in mostly KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in a brazen attack on the economy.

In his address to the nation on Friday evening, Ramaphosa admitted that his administration was ill-prepared for the large-scale attacks.

DA leader John Steenhuisen says Cele and Dlodlo must pay the price. 

“In any other democracy, there would be no question that their heads would roll for this utter failure of intelligence and preparedness. If the safety of South Africans comes before the unity of the ANC, then Cele and Dlodlo must go.”

“President Ramaphosa furthermore acknowledged that the violence and looting over the past week is a deliberate, coordinated attack on our democracy. He failed to acknowledge that the people who coordinated this attack are in his own party and that it is ANC factional fighting that has spilled onto the streets of KZN and Gauteng,” adds Steenhuisen.

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Affected communities in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have begun mop-up operations, while businesses take stock of the damage.

“The president called for the country to unite to clean up the mess. The first step to cleaning up the mess must surely be to fire these two Cabinet ministers who have so utterly failed in their duty to protect South African lives, property and livelihoods.

“This Mandela Day we will clean our streets, but we want the President to clean up his cabinet of those who have failed our nation.”

Ramaphosa told South Africans that social relief will be provided to the areas now faced with job loss and food shortages. 

Listen to John Steenhuisen below: